Patient characteristics
| Characteristics | Overall population | Group 1* | Group 2* | Group 3* |
| No. cases | 84 | 12 | 25 | 47 |
| Age, (years) median (IQR) | 35 (28–42) | 37 (28–43) | 35 (28–43) | 35 (29–41) |
| Male, n (%) | 58 (69.0%) | 10 (83.3%) | 18 (72.0%) | 30 (63.8%) |
| Ethnicity, n (%) | ||||
| European | 24 (28.6%) | 4 (33.3%) | 7 (28.0%) | 13 (27.6%) |
| Asian | 41 (48.8%) | 5 (41.7%) | 12 (48.0%) | 24 (51.1%) |
| African | 19 (22.6%) | 3 (25.0%) | 6 (24.0%) | 10 (21.3%) |
| Serum HBV DNA, logIU/mL (median, IQR)† | 4.2 (3.5–5.2) | 2.7 (2.0–2.8) | 3.7 (3.5–3.8) | 5.1 (4.5–5.5) |
| Serum ALT, U/L (median, IQR)† | 41 (28–57) | 48 (28–96) | 31 (27–41) | 42 (29–58) |
| HBsAg, logIU/mL (median, IQR) | 3.7 (3.2–4.0) | 3.4 (3.1–4.1) | 3.6 (3.2–3.9) | 3.8 (3.3–4.0) |
| HBcrAg negative, n (%)‡ | 35 (70%) | 6 (66.7%) | 18 (81.1%) | 11 (28.2%) |
| HBcrAg, logU/mL (median, IQR)‡ | 4.0 (3.3–4.8) | 3.8 (3.4–4.0) | 3.4 (3.2–4.2) | 4.1 (3.3–4.8) |
| HBV genotype, n (%) | ||||
| A | 9 (10.7%) | 1 (8.3%) | 1 (4.0%) | 7 (14.9%) |
| B | 6 (7.1%) | 1 (8.3%) | 3 (12.0%) | 2 (4.3%) |
| C | 16 (19.0%) | 2 (16.7%) | 3 (12.0%) | 11 (23.4%) |
| D | 38 (45.2%) | 6 (50.0%) | 12 (48.0%) | 20 (42.6%) |
| E | 15 (17.9%) | 2 (16.7%) | 6 (24.0%) | 7 (14.9%) |
| Ishak fibrosis stage, n (%) | ||||
| 0–2 | 70 (83.3%) | 11 (91.7%) | 24 (96.0%) | 35 (74.5%) |
| 3–6 | 14 (16.7%) | 1 (8.3%) | 1 (4.0%) | 12 (25.5%) |
*Groups 1, 2 and 3 were defined according to serum HBV DNA levels (mean value obtained by consecutive measurements during the 2-year follow-up prior to performing liver biopsy; HBV DNA persistently <2000 IU/mL (group 1); HBV DNA 2000–20 000 IU/mL (group 2); HBV DNA >20 000 IU/mL (group 3).
†The median value (IQR) of serum HBV DNA, HBsAg and ALT, calculated by using mean values observed during the 2-year monitoring period prior to performing liver biopsy.
‡Data available for 70/84 patients (9/12 in group 1; 22/25 in group 2; 39/45 in group 3).
ALT, alanine aminotransferase; HBcrAg, hepatitis B core-related antigen; HBsAg, hepatitis B surface antigen.