Association of interleukin-28B and hepatitis C genotype 1 with a high viral load and response to pegylated interferon plus ribavirin therapy.

Background: Pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) plus ribavirin therapy is the current standard treatment for chronic hepatitis C (CHC) genotype 1 with high viral load. A common genetic variation near the IL28B gene has been found to affect the response to PEG-IFN plus ribavirin therapy for CHC. The aims of this study were to analyze the association between the rs8099917 genotype and treatment response in a cohort study of CHC.

Methods: This study evaluated clinical and laboratory parameters retrospectively in a cohort of 122 patients with chronic hepatitis C with genotype 1 and a high viral load who received PEG-IFN plus ribavirin therapy. We carried out univariate and multivariate statistical analyses of parameters and clinical responses.

Results: Sixty-three of 122 patients (51.6%) had sustained virological responses (SVRs). Patients with the rs8099917 genotype TT achieved significantly higher SVR rates (p < 0.01). Univariate analysis revealed that SVRs were associated with BMI, fibrosis, albumin, total cholesterol, PEG-IFN dose, ribavirin dose and the rs8099917 genotype. Multivariate analysis revealed that the rs8099917 genotype (odds ratio 7.434, 95% CI 2.278-24.257, p = 0.001) and total PEG-IFN dose (odds ratio 7.162, 95% CI 1.565-18.15, p = 0.007) were significant factors.

Conclusions: The rs8099917 genotype and total PEG-IFN dose were associated with SVR in patients with hepatitis C virus genotype 1.