Demographic data and laboratory findings of RA patients with different status of HBV infection†
| RA patients with positive HBcAb | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| HBsAg+ (n=18) | HBsAg−/HBsAb− (n=12) | HBsAg−/HBsAb+ (n=58) | |
| Mean age, years | 46.2 ± 13.6 | 48.9 ± 9.7 | 51.6 ± 11.8 |
| Female proportion | 15 (83.3%) | 12 (100%) | 50 (86.2%) |
| Disease duration, years | 8.9 ± 2.8 | 9.8 ± 2.2 | 8.6 ± 2.4 |
| Baseline ALT levels, U/ml | 52.0 ± 23.1 | 31.7 ± 6.8* | 26.4 ± 7.9* |
| Baseline HBeAg+ proportion | 7 (38.9%) | ND | ND |
| Baseline HBeAb+ proportion | 11 (61.1%) | ND | ND |
| Baseline viral loads, IU/ml | 91 662±198 363 | 297 ± 179‡ | Undetectable |
| RF positivity | 13 (72.2%) | 10 (83.3%) | 42 (72.4%) |
| ESR (mm/1st h) | 50.3 ± 27.2 | 59.3 ± 33.4 | 51.6 ± 30.6 |
| DAS28 | 7.26 ± 0.79 | 7.14 ± 0.80 | 7.17 ± 0.75 |
| Daily steroid dose (mg) | 6.53 ± 1.94 | 6.88 ± 2.17 | 6.47 ± 1.69 |
| Methotrexate | 16 (88.9%) | 11 (91.7%) | 53 (91.4%) |
| Isoniazid prophylaxis | 3 (16.7%) | 2 (16.7%) | 15 (25.9%) |
| TNFα inhibitors | |||
| Etanercept | 9 (50.0%) | 8 (66.7%) | 23 (39.7%) |
| Adalimumab | 9 (50.0%) | 4 (33.3%) | 35 (60.3%) |
| EULAR good response | 14 (77.8%) | 10 (83.3%) | 39 (67.2%) |
† Values are mean±SD or the number (%) of patients.
DAS28, disease activity score for 28 joints; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; EULAR, European League Against Rheumatism; HBcAb, hepatitis B core antibody; HBeAb, antibody against hepatitis B virus (HBV) envelope antigen; HBeAg, HBV envelope antigen; ND, not done; RA, rheumatoid arthritis; RF, rheumatoid factor; TNFα, tumour necrosis factor alpha.
* p<0.001, versus HBsAg-positive patients;
‡ only include four patients with detectable DNA.