Association between an IL‐28B genetic polymorphism and the efficacy of the response‐guided pegylated interferon therapy in children with chronic hepatic C infection. Issue 4 (13th September 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Komatsu, Haruki; Inui, Ayano; Tsunoda, Tomoyuki; Sogo, Tsuyoshi; Fujisawa, Tomoo
• Is Part Of: Hepatology research. Volume 43:Issue 4(2013:Apr.)
• Page Start: 327
• Page End: 338
• Publication Date: 2012-09-13
• Subjects: Liver -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Liver Diseases -- Periodicals; Foie -- Maladies -- Périodiques; 616.362
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1872-034X.2012.01087.x
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1386-6346

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="hepr1087-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Aim</title> <p>The relation between interleukin‐28B (<italic>IL‐28B</italic>) genotypes and treatment‐induced hepatitis C virus (HCV) clearance in children is unknown. This was a retrospective study to evaluate the association between an IL‐28B genotype (rs8099917) and pegylated (PEG) interferon (IFN) response.</p> </sec> <sec id="hepr1087-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>Sixty‐three children (median age, 7 years; range, 3–17 years; 22 with HCV genotype 1 and 41 with genotype non‐1) with chronic HCV infection who were treated with response‐guided PEG IFN on the basis of viral load were evaluated.</p> </sec> <sec id="hepr1087-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>The duration of treatment with PEG IFN was 24 weeks in one child (2%), 36 weeks in eight children (13%), 48 weeks in 36 children (57%), 60 weeks in 11 children (17%) and 72 weeks in seven children (11%). Of the total 63 children, 54 (86%) were initially treated with PEG IFN‐α‐2a monotherapy. The remaining nine (14%) received PEG IFN plus ribavirin as the initial therapy. Of the 54 children initially treated with monotherapy, 35 (65%) continued receiving monotherapy until the end of treatment. In the remaining 19 (35%), monotherapy was changed to PEG IFN plus ribavirin at 12 or 24 weeks of treatment. Of the total 63 children, 54 (86%) achieved a sustained virological response (SVR). In univariate analysis, rs8099917 genotype TT (<italic>P</italic> = 0.075) showed a weak association with SVR. However, the multivariate analysis revealed no predictive factors which had a significant association with SVR.</p> </sec> <sec id="hepr1087-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>The <italic>IL‐28B</italic> genotype was not a strong pretreatment predictor for SVR in a mixed genotype cohort of children treated with response‐guided PEG IFN therapy.</p> </sec> </abstract>