Statistical analysis:
Data were summarised as median (IQR) or n (%) for summary statistics of the study participants. One-way Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA was used to determine the difference in miR-122 and K18 between the different patient groups. Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed rank test was used to determine the difference in miR-122 and K18 upon starting treatment. The coefficient of variation was calculated across 3 or more samples to assess the intra-individual variability of ALT and K18 in the HIV-TB coinfected population. Correlation of the biomarkers was determined using Spearman’s rank correlation. The difference between miR-122 or K18 in samples grouped by ALT was determined using a Mann-Whitney t-test. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was undertaken on all patient samples grouped by normal ALT (≤50 IU/L) and elevated ALT (>50 IU/L). Statistical analyses were performed using Graphpad Prism (GraphPad Software, La Jolla, California).