Abstract
Background: Genetic variation in the interleukin 28B (IL28B) gene has been associated with response to Interferon-α & Ribavirin (IFN+Riba) therapy in hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1-infected patients; there is limited data for HCV patients with genotype 3. We evaluated the effects of IL28B polymorphisms on response to treatment with IFN+Riba in patients with HCV genotype 3. Material & Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Medical A Ward, PGMI, Lady Reading Hospital and Author’s Private Hepatology Clinic, Peshawar, Pakistan from July 2013 to June 2014. IL28B host genotypes (CC, CT and TT) were analyzed in 184 patients of chronic hepatitis C genotype 3, for association with outcome of antiviral therapy with IFN+Riba, using SPSS version 16.0. Results: The frequencies of the IL28B genotypes were as follows: CC, 24.5%; CT, 60.3%; and TT, 15.2%; Non-CC genotype was significantly associated with the Non-Responder status of the studied patients of HCV genotype 3 irrespective of their gender and genotype subtype status, with statistically sagnifiant association between virological and clinical profile (p=0.001). Conclusion: An IL28B polymorphism (Non-CC genotype) was associated with Virological non-Response in patients infected with genotype 3 HCV who did not achieve a RVR. Analysis of IL28B genotype might be used to guide treatment for these patients.