Table 1 Baseline characteristics of the study patients

Age^a, years

47 ± 10

48 ± 11

47 ± 10

Male, n (%)

67 (69.1%)

32 (68.1%)

35 (70.0%)

HBsAg^b, log₁₀ IU/mL

3.41 (3.15-3.69)

3.43 (3.17-3.84)

3.40 (3.10-3.67)

HBeAg positivity^c, n (%)

73 (75.3%)

40 (85.1%)

33 (66.0%)

HBV DNA undetectable (<60 IU/mL), n (%)

97 (100%)

47 (100%)

50 (100%)

ALT^b, IU/L

20 (16–30)

24 (16–31)

19 (14–27)

Bilirubin^b, mg/dL

1.0 (0.8-1.2)

1.0 (0.7-1.3)

1.0 (0.8-1.2)

Albumin^b, g/dL

4.4 (4.2-4.5)

4.3 (4.1-4.5)

4.4 (4.2-4.5)

INR^b

0.98 (0.95-1.04)

0.98 (0.95-1.03)

0.98 (0.95-1.04)

Platelet^b, ×1,000/mm³

167 (134–208)

170 (129–207)

166 (137–209)

Cirrhosis^d, n (%)

33 (34.0%)

15 (31.9%)

18 (36.0%)

Creatinine^b, mg/dL

0.9 (0.7-1.0)

0.9 (0.7-1.0)

0.9 (0.8-1.0)

Creatine kinase^b, U/L

100 (77–129)

102 (81–156)

87 (72–116)

Duration of prior entecavir treatment^b, months

36 (24–46)

33 (24–42)

39 (23–47)