The median baseline values of ALT, log HBV DNA, log qHBsAg, and log qHBeAg were 66 IU/L (20-325 IU/L), 6.73 copies/mL (4.04-9.11 copies/mL), 3.58 IU/L (1.17-5.10 IU/L), and 1.71 PE IU/mL (−0.64 to 2.63 PE IU/mL), Selleckchem AG14699 respectively (Table 1). Four

(7.0%) and five patients (8.8%) achieved HBeAg seroconversion at 12 and 24 months, respectively, and three additional patients (5.3%) achieved HBeAg seroclearance through month 24. ALT normalization was observed in 58 patients (90.6%) at 12 months and in 60 patients (93.8%) at 24 months from a total of 64 patients who had elevated baseline ALT levels. No patient had HBsAg clearance through month 24. One patient (1.1%) was distinguished by primary nonresponse, and no patient had a biochemical or virological Metabolism inhibitor breakthrough during the study period. Overall, log qHBsAg decreased significantly from 3.73 ± 0.74 (baseline) to 3.49 ± 0.58 IU/mL (P = 0.002) at 24 months in HBeAg(+) patients and from 3.42 ± 0.49 (baseline) to 3.21 ± 0.51 IU/mL (P = 0.005) at 24 months in HBeAg(−) patients, and there were significant differences between HBeAg(+) and HBeAg(−) patients

(P < 0.05). When log qHBsAg was evaluated according to the VR status, it gradually declined among HBeAg(+) patients from 3.48 ± 0.65 to 3.33 ± 0.55 IU/mL (P = 0.097) in the VR(+) group and from 4.22 ± 0.68 to 3.80 ± 0.54 IU/mL (P = 0.005) in the VR(−) group (Fig. 1A). Similarly, among HBeAg(−) patients, log qHBsAg decreased from 3.40 ± 0.48 to 3.20 ± 0.50 IU/mL (P = 0.007) in the VR(+) group and from 3.77 ± 0.73 to 3.60 ± 0.75 IU/mL (P = 0.058) in the VR(−) group (Fig. 1B). Among HBeAg(+) patients, significant differences in qHBsAg levels were seen between the VR(+) and VR(−) groups (P < 0.005). In 57 HBeAg(+) patients, log qHBeAg decreased significantly

from 1.45 ± 1.03 (baseline) to 0.42 ± 1.00 PE IU/mL (P < 0.001) at 24 months. When log qHBeAg was evaluated according to the VR status, it declined from 1.11 ± 1.04 to −0.01 ± 0.71 PE IU/mL (P < 0.001) in the VR(+) group and from Cediranib (AZD2171) 2.11 ± 0.65 to 1.26 ± 0.95 PE IU/mL (P < 0.001) in the VR(−) group (Fig. 2A). There were significant differences in qHBeAg reduction between the VR(+) and VR(−) groups (P < 0.001). When log qHBeAg was evaluated according to the SR status, a steeper decrease was noted in the SR(+) group (from 1.44 ± 1.10 to −0.72 ± 0.46 PE IU/mL, P = 0.003) versus the SR(−) group (from 1.45 ± 1.04 to 0.60 ± 0.94 PE IU/mL, P < 0.001; Fig. 2B). Statistical differences were noted from month 6 between the SR(+) and SR(−) groups (P < 0.05). Predictors for VR were investigated in HBeAg(+) patients. Among the baseline characteristics, multivariate analysis showed that higher ALT levels (P = 0.013), lower HBV DNA levels (P = 0.040), and lower qHBsAg levels (P = 0.033) were significantly associated with VR (Table 2).