Osteopontin as a marker for response to pegylated interferon Alpha-2b treatment in Chronic HCV Saudi patients.

Background: Many recent studies support the idea that osteopontin (OPN) can be used to predict the success of pegylated interferon (PEG IFN) alpha-2b/ribavirin therapy in chronic HCV patients.

Objective: Our aim was to investigate the role of plasma OPN and its gene polymorphism at nt - 443 in response to PEG IFN in Saudi patients with chronic HCV.

Methods: Blood was collected from 87 patients with chronic hepatitis C before treatment, then patients received PEG IFN α2b plus ribavirin combination therapy.