Polymorphisms influences sustained virological response in HCV-2 and -3 in patients

Polymorphisms influences sustained virological response in HCV-2 and -3 in patients

The most recent issue of the Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics investigates the impact of IL28B polymorphisms on rapid and sustained virological response in HCV-2 and -3 patients.

Recent studies suggested that IL28B polymorphisms may affect rapid and sustained virological response rates in HCV patients infected with genotype 2 or 3. Dr Deltenre and colleagues from Belgium assessed the role of IL28B polymorphisms on the virological response in HCV-2 and -3 patients. The researchers performed a meta-analysis of studies evaluating the impact of rs12979860 and rs8099917 polymorphisms on rapid and sustained virological response in HCV-2 or -3 patients. The team included 23 studies involving 3042 patients. The first meta-analysis evaluated the impact of rs12979860 polymorphism and included 1963 patients. When compared with rs12979860 CT/TT patients, CC patients had a higher rapid virological response rate, and a higher sustained virological response rate. The second meta-analysis evaluated the impact of rs8099917 polymorphism and included 2246 patients. When compared with rs8099917 TG/GG patients, the team found that TT patients had a higher rapid virological response rate and a higher sustained virological response rate. The team noted that when considering only patients treated for 24 weeks, results were unchanged. The researchers identified no potential sources of between-study heterogeneity. Dr Deltenre's team commented, "Favorable IL28B polymorphisms are associated with higher rapid and sustained virological response rates in HCV-2 and -3 patients." "However, as the impact on a sustained response is very limited, it is unlikely that IL28B polymorphisms provide additional predictive value when considering other predictors of a sustained response." Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2012: 36(4): 353–362 27 July 2012 http://www.gastrohep.com/news/news.asp?id=108975