The Predictors of Response of Treatment of HCV Patients by Interferon and Ribavirin, NORAN A. EL-KORDY, AHMED Y. SAYED, DINA S. ABD EL-FATAH, MONA A. AMIN, ALI H. FARAG and DINA A. EL-GENDY
Abstract
Introduction: Hepatitis C virus infection is a major health problem worldwide, accurately predicting the patients who will respond to therapy is becoming increasingly important, both from the point of patient care and also with respect to the healthcare cost. Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) near IL28B can be considered as predictor encoding the response of patients to treatment.
Aim of Work: We aimed to find if there is a relation between IL28B gene single nucleotide polymorphism and the response to treatment of HCV by combination of PEG-interferon and ribavirin.
Methods: A prospective study was conducted on 200 patients with HCV received pegylated-interferon/ribavirin. Following the response to treatment after 48 weeks, they weredivided into two groups responders and non-responders. PCR of IL28B genotyping was carried to all patients.
Results: A highly significant relation between IL28B subtype and the response to treatment of HCV by PEG inter-feron and ribavirin was found, compared to group of non-responders (p<0.001). CC showed more incidence to respond to treatment and TT less incidence to respond.
Conclusion: IL28B genotype is the most important pre-treatment predictor of response to peg-IFN and RBV therapy for HCV.