Assessment of interleukin 28B genotype as a predictor of response to combined therapy with pegylated interferon plus ribavirin in HCV infected Egyptian patients

- Genotyping of IL28B rs8099917 was done in 153 HCV infected patients by Real Time PCR.
- The overall sustained virological response was achieved in 49.6% of patients.
- TT genotype carriers have 2.8 higher chance for sustained response than G carriers.
- IL-28B (rs8099917) polymorphism has no association with pretreatment viral load.
- IL-28B genotype is a predictor of response to therapy in HCV infected patients.

Background and aimSingle nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of interleukin 28B (IL28B) gene is associated with spontaneous clearance and variable response to combined therapy with pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) and ribavirin (RBV) in chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infected patients. This study aimed at assessing the value of IL28B rs8099917 gene polymorphism in predicting sustained virological response (SVR) among HCV infected Egyptian patients treated with PEG-IFN and RBV.MethodsOur study was conducted on 153 chronic HCV infected patients treated with PEG-IFN and RBV. Genotyping of rs8099917 near the IL-28B gene was performed by Real Time PCR using Taq-Man probe assay.ResultsThe overall SVR was achieved in 49.6% of patients. Patients with TT genotype showed significantly higher SVR rate than minor allele (TG/GG) carriers (74% vs. 26%, P = 0.004). Logistic regression analysis revealed that TT carriers had 2.8 higher chance for SVR achievement than G allele carriers TG/GG (OR = 2.8, 95% CI = 1.4-5.6, P = 0.004). Younger age, male sex and low activity grading were significant predictors of SVR (P = 0.003, P = <0.001 and P < 0.001 respectively). High pretreatment AST levels and advanced liver fibrosis were negative predictors of SVR (P = 0.04 and P < 0.001 respectively).ConclusionIL28B genotype is a significant pre-treatment predictor of response to PEG-IFN/RBV in HCV infected Egyptian patients.