Baseline HBV DNA level is the most important factor associated with virologic breakthrough in chronic hepatitis B treated with lamivudine

Table 1 Baseline characteristics of patients (mean ± SD)

	All patients(n = 79)	Breakthrough(n = 24)	Non-breakthrough(n = 55)
Age (yr)	47 ± 12	47 ± 13	47 ± 11
Female (%)	32	29	33
Family history of CHB (%)	47	46	55
ALT (IU/L)	149 ± 44	98 ± 20	171 ± 63
Total bilirubin (mg/dL)	1.1 ± 1.1	1.3 ± 1.4	1.0 ± 0.9
Albumin (g/dL)	4.4 ± 0.4	4.2 ± 0.5	4.3 ± 0.4
(INR)	1.07 ± 0.12	1.09 ± 0.15	1.06 ± 0.08
Cirrhosis (%)	30	36	24
HBeAg-positive (%)	43	56	36
HBV DNA log10 copies/mLa	6.0 ± 1.6	6.6 ± 1.5	5.7 ± 1.5
Mean duration of lamivudine treatment (mo)	26 ± 10	29 ± 11	25 ± 10
3 log < HBV DNA < 5 log (%)	19	3	16
HBV DNA ≥ 5 log (%)	60	21	39

^aP < 0.05 breakthrough vs non-breakthrough group INR: International normalized ratio..