Table 1 Baseline demographic characteristics of study participants
Characteristic | Prednisolone, n (%) | Placebo, n (%) | P value |
|---|---|---|---|
Mean age | 27.947 (SD 9.50) | 27.125 (SD 8.82) | 0.709 |
Sex | 1.000 | ||
Male | 5 (36.84) | 7 (31.25) | |
Female | 11 (68.75) | 12 (63.16) | |
Level of education | 0.491 | ||
No formal education | 2 (12.50) | 4 (21.05) | |
Primary | 12 (75.00) | 10 (52.63) | |
Secondary | 2 (12.50) | 5 (26.32) | |
Occupation | 0.636 | ||
Unemployed | 11 (68.75) | 13 (68.42) | |
Employed | 5 (31.25) | 6 (31.58) | |
Duration of disease | 0.529 | ||
<1 year | 13 (81.25) | 11 (57.89) | |
1–2 years | 1 (6.25) | 1 (5.26) | |
3–5 years | 1 (6.25) | 3 (15.79) | |
>5 years | 1 (6.25) | 4 (21.05) | |
Family history of EMF | 0.398 | ||
Yes | 4 (25.00) | 3 (15.795) | |
No | 12 (75.00) | 16 (84.21) | |
Paracentesis in prior 3 months | 0.763 | ||
None | 6 (37.50) | 8 (42.11) | |
Once | 1 (6.25) | 3 (15.79) | |
Twice | 4 (25.00) | 4 (21.05) | |
Thrice | 3 (18.75) | 1 (5.26) | |
More than 3 times | 2 (12.50) | 3 (15.79) | |
Mean weight | 47.894 (SD 10.32) | 45.625 (SD 15.56) | 0.703 |
Blood pressure | 0.234 | ||
<90/60 | 0 (0.00) | 3 (15.79) | |
90/60–139/89 | 16 (100.00) | 16 (84.21) | |
Temperature | 0.457 | ||
<35 | 1 (6.25) | 0 (0.00) | |
35–37.5 | 15 (93.75) | 19 (100.00) | |
Random blood sugar | 0.481 | ||
<4 mmol/dl | 4 (25) | 6 (31.58) | |
4–11 mmol/dl | 12 (75.00) | 13 (68.42) | |
White cell count (WBC) | 0.758 | ||
>10,000 | 1 (8.33) | 1 (5.88) | |
4000–10,000 | 7 (58.33) | 8 (47.06) | |
<4000 | 4 (33.33) | 8 (47.06) | |
Eosinophilia (>10 % WBC) | 2 (16.67) | 1 (5.88) | 0.348 |
Haemoglobin | 0.793 | ||
>14 mg/dl | 9 (75.00) | 12 (70.59) | |
12–14 mg/dl | 3 (25.00) | 5 (29.41) | |
SAAG | 0.414 | ||
<1.1 | 1 (8.33) | 0 (0.00) | |
>1.1 | 11 (91.67) | 17 (100) | |
Ascitic fluid lymphocytes | 0.091 | ||
>40 % | 15 (93.75) | 13 (68.42) | |
<40 % | 1 (6.25) | 6 (31.58) |