Efficacy of thymosin alpha-1 and interferon alpha in treatment of chronic viral hepatitis B: A randomized controlled study

Table 1 Characteristics of the patients at entry to the study¹

Characteristics	HBeAg-positive CHB
	T-α1 group	IFN-α group	HC group
Number	29	33	30
Male: Female	26:3	27:6	21:9
Age (yr)2	45 ± 8	42 ± 11	44 ± 10
Duration of infection (yr)2	10.8 ± 5.6	9.3 ± 4.7	9.6 ± 5.5
Cirrhosis at entry	2	3	2
Previous 1FN therapy	2	0	0
Serum ALT (U/L)2	177.79 ± 58.82	189.94 ± 63.08	183.5 ± 68.32
Serum AST (U/L)	167.72 ± 34.19	154.27 ± 73.34	141.8 ± 49.85
Albumin (g/L)2	44 ± 9	47 ± 8	45 ± 8
Total bilirubin (μmol/L)	18.57 ± 9.65	17.92 ± 9.22	16.68 ± 8.72
Serum HBV DNA (copies/mL)3
< 5.0 × 105 copies/mL	10 (34%)	15 (45%)	13 (43%)
≥ 5.0 × 105 copies/mL	19 (66%)	18 (55%)	17 (57%)

¹No significant differences were observed among groups.

²Data are expressed as mean ± SD.

³Data are expressed as n (%). Normal values: ALT < 40 IU/L; AST < 40 IU/L; albumin = 35-55 g/L; total bilirubin < 17 μmol/L. ALT: Alanine aminotransferase; AST: aspartate aminotransferase; HBV: hepatitis B virus; T-α1: thymosin - α1; IFN-α: interferon -α; HC: historical control.