Interleukin 28B Polymorphism Predicts Treatment Outcome Among Egyptian Patients Infected With HCV Genotype 4.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Egypt has the highest prevalence of HCV worldwide (15%) with a high morbidity and mortality from chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. The Aim of this study was to investigate the associations between IL-28B single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP rs12979860) and treatment outcome among Egyptian patients infected with HCV genotype 4.

METHODOLOGY: HCV patients were genotyped as CC, CT, or TT at the polymorphic site, rs12979860 in unrelated case control of Egyptian population with HCV.

RESULTS: By using univariate regression analysis, the minor allele of IL28B (p < 0.0001), high serum level of HCV-RNA (p = 0.035), and advanced fibrosis (p = 0.02) were associated with (NRs) (Odds ratio, 3.75 with 95% confidence nterval (2.308-6.1067). While, in multivariate logistic regression analysis, rs12979860 CC genotype was the strongest predictive of SVR (OR = 20.83, 95% CI = 11.63- 37.04, p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION: The IL28B rs12979860 SNP is the strongest predictor of an SVR among Egyptian patients infected with HCV-4.