Interleukin 28B Gene Variation at rs12979860 Determines Early Viral Kinetics During Treatment in Patients Carrying Genotypes 2 or 3 of Hepatitis C Virus
Journal article, 2011

Single-nucleotide polymorphisms upstream of the interleukin 28B (interferon lambda 3) gene (IL28B) strongly influence treatment efficacy in patients carrying hepatitis C virus (HCV) of genotype 1. In patients receiving 12 or 24 weeks of interferon-ribavirin therapy for infection with genotype 2 or 3 (n = 341), we found that rs12979860 strikingly determined the first phase of viral elimination (P < .001). In patients treated for 24 weeks, rs12979860 also predicted the rate of sustained virologic response (P = .02), especially among those with high baseline HCV RNA levels (P = .002) or older than 45 years (P = .01). Patients carrying CCrs12979860 had higher baseline HCV RNA levels (P < .001) and did not, when treated for 12 weeks, achieve sustained virologic response more often than those carrying CTrs1297986 or TTrs1297986. The results indicate that IL28B gene testing may identify patients carrying genotype 2 or 3 who could benefit from extended treatment.

ribavirin

il28b

Author

Magnus Lindh

University of Gothenburg

Martin Lagging

University of Gothenburg

Martti Färkkilä

University of Helsinki

Nina Langeland

University of Bergen

Kristine Mørch

University of Bergen

Staffan Nilsson

University of Gothenburg

Chalmers, Mathematical Sciences, Mathematical Statistics

Gunnar Norkrans

University of Gothenburg

Court Pedersen

University of Southern Denmark

Mads Rauning Buhl

Aarhus University

Johan Westin

University of Gothenburg

Kristoffer Hellstrand

University of Gothenburg

Journal of Infectious Diseases

0022-1899 (ISSN) 1537-6613 (eISSN)

Vol. 203 12 1748-1752

Subject Categories

Dermatology and Venereal Diseases

DOI

10.1093/infdis/jir193

More information

Latest update

9/6/2018 1