Single nucleotide polymorphisms near IL28B gene and response to treatment of chronic hepatitis C in hemodialysis patients

Abstract

Background: It has been shown that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) near the interleukin 28B (IL28B) gene were associated with sustained virological response following standard antivirological treatment of chronic hepatitis C. Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate the association between SNPs near the IL28B gene and response to the treatment of chronic hepatitis C in hemodialysis patients. Patients and methods: The study group included 24 hemodialysis patients with chronic hepatitis C routinely treated with pegylated interferon α-2 a. HCV genotype 1 was the cause of chronic hepatitis C in all study participants. Sustained virological response was determined by an assay with a sensitivity of 20 IU/mL, 6 months after completion of the antivirological treatment. The genotyping of the three most widely studied IL28B gene polymorphisms (rs12979860, rs8099917, and rs12980275) was performed in all study participants. Results: Sustained virological response was achieved in 50% of the treated patients. The treatment response was significantly associated with the CC genotype of rs12979860, TT genotype of rs8099917, and AA genotype of rs12980275 (p = 0.003, p = 0.009, and p = 0.012, respectively). Conclusions: The three most widely studied SNPs near the IL28B gene were associated with sustained virological response following antivirological treatment of chronic hepatitis C in hemodialysis patients.

• Hemodialysis
• hepatitis C chronic
• IFN-lambda-3 protein
• single nucleotide polymorphisms
• treatment

Acknowledgements

Authors wish to thank Mihaela Codreanu from Agence Universitaire de la Francophinie (AUF), for her administrative support in organization and realization of the regional multicenter collaboration.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

This study was supported by the Agence Universitaire de la Francophinie (AUF). Project Title: Facteurs génétiques prédictifs de la réponse virale sous traitement par interféron pégylé chez des patients infectés par infection le virus de l'hépatite C (VHC), traités ou non par dialyse.