Association of the Treatment Induced Clearance of Hepatitis C Virus Infection with the IL28B Gene Polymorphisms

• Main Authors: Pavlina Dzekova Vidimliski (Author), Igor G Nikolov (Author), Nadica Matevska Geshkovska (Author), Yana Boyanova (Author), Nina Nikolova (Author), Grigore Romanciuc (Author), Dan Dumitrascu (Author), Viktorija Caloska- Ivanova (Author), Nenad Joksimovic (Author), Krasimir Antonov (Author), Lyudmila Mateva (Author), Lionel Rostaing (Author), Aleksandar Dimovski (Author), Aleksandar Sikole (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Archives of Hepatitis Research - Peertechz Publications, 2015-12-28.
• Subjects: Case Report
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.

<p><strong>Background:</strong> It has been shown that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) near the interleukin 28B (IL28B) gene were associated with sustained viral response following standard treatment of hepatitis C virus infection.</p><p><strong>Aim:</strong> The aim of the study was to evaluate the association between the SNPs near the IL28B gene and the response to the treatment of chronic hepatitis C.</p><p><strong>Methods:</strong> The genotyping of the three IL28B gene polymorphisms: rs12979860, rs8099917, and rs12980275 was done in 100 Caucasian patients with chronic hepatitis C previously treated with standard antiviral therapy. The study group consisted of 28 hemodialysis patients with end stage renal disease treated with pegylated interferon α and 72 patients without renal disease treated with pegylated interferon α and ribavirin. All patients finished the antiviral treatment at least 6 months before enrollment in the study. Sustained viral response, defined as an absence of detectable HCV RNA in the serum, was tested by an assay with a sensitivity of 20 IU/mL.</p><p><strong>Results</strong>: Sustained viral response was achieved in 56% (56/100) of the treated patients. The three IL28B gene polymorphisms (CC genotype of rs12979860, TT genotype of rs8099917, and AA genotype of rs12980275) were associated with sustained viral response (p=0.006, p=0.002, p=0.007, respectively) in study patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with standard antiviral therapy.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The IL28B gene polymorphisms: rs12979860, rs8099917, and rs12980275 were significantly associated with the successful treatment of chronic hepatitis C.<br></p>