Presence of hepatitis B virus in synovium and its clinical significance in rheumatoid arthritis

Table 2 Comparison of synovial histopathological features

Parameters	CHB group^a (n = 11)	Non-CHB group^a (n = 46)	p Value^b	HBcAg(+)^c (n = 7)	HBcAg(−)^c (n = 4)	p Value^d
MVCs, /mm²	145 (102–216)	140 (118–177)	0.473	133–286	93–145	0.023
CD3⁺ T cells, /mm²	1141 (560–1751)	639 (473–1131)	0.124	0–2103	425–1934	0.571
CD15⁺ neutrophils, /mm²	638 (297–897)	229 (149–389)	0.010	63–1367	16–1484	0.850
CD20⁺ B cells, /mm²	1216 (472–2834)	340 (122–753)	0.001	773–4695	267–1940	0.038
CD38⁺ plasma cells, /mm²	1594 (380–2223)	815 (269–1346)	0.124	519–4486	120–1795	0.059
CD68⁺ macrophages^e, /mm²	1873 (1016–2304)	923 (622–1310)	< 0.001	1016–2806	968–2826	0.257
Sublining CD68⁺ macrophages	1686 (871–2075)	659 (449–1005)	< 0.001	991–2496	784–1345	0.023
Lining CD68⁺ macrophages	202 (158–238)	212 (126–266)	0.911	158–330	193–480	0.450
Krenn synovitis score	4 (2–7)	5 (4–6)	0.682	2–7	1–4	0.071
Hyperplasia of lining layer	2 (1–2)	2 (1–2)	0.808	1–3	1–2	0.308
Inflammatory infiltration	1 (1–2)	1 (1–2)	0.514	0–3	0–1	0.072
Synovial stroma activation	1 (1–2)	2 (1–2)	0.278	1–3	0–1	0.025

Abbreviations: CHB Chronic HBV infection, HBcAg Hepatitis B virus core antigen, MVC Microvessel count, RA Rheumatoid arthritis
^aData correspond to median (interquartile range) unless stated otherwise. Bold p values indicate statistically significant levels
^bComparison between the CHB and non-CHB groups
^cData correspond to minimum - maximum
^dComparison of HBcAg-positive vs. HBcAg-negative synovial specimens from patients with CHB
^eCD68-positive macrophages included lining and sublining CD68-positive macrophages

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