Prognostic value of gene IL-28B in treatment of chronic viral hepatitis C

Abstract

Introduction: The problem of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) is one of the most pressing problems of modern health care. Each year between 3 and 4 million people are getting infected. Due to the rapidly spreading of infection, lack of specific vaccination, a high frequency of chronic infection, frequent adverse effects of the disease, expensive treatment of chronic hepatitis C and its complications - the problem is not only medical but also social and economic. One of the modern standards of treatment of chronic hepatitis C in Ukraine is using a combination of antiviral therapy (AVT) (Pegylated interferon . and Ribavirin). Approximately 60% of patients achieve sustained virological response. Due to the possible risk of relapse after complete treatment, and side effects of antiviral drugs, the importance of determining predictors efficiency of AVT. In 2009 was published a first report on the existence of a specific IL28B-gene polymorphisms, which nucleotide sequence was different depending on the response to combined antiviral therapy. Materials and Methods: We have analyzed 40 patients with chronic hepatitis C infected with genotype 1 virus. Among observed were more men - 25 (62.5%) patients. The average age of the patients was (38,46 ± 2,4) years. All patients were on in/outpatient treatment in the Clinical Hospital №1 ofVinnytsia and were treated with combinated antiviral therapy (Ribavirin+PegIFN .2a) during 2014- 2015 years. All patients with chronic hepatitis C were conducted molecular genetic analysis to determine IL28B-gene polymorphism using PCR. Discussion results: According to the data obtained among patients with chronic hepatitis C more than half of the patients (21 patients - 52.5%) were carriers of C/T genotype. Genotype C/C of IL28V gene occurred in 32.5% (13 patients). T / T genotype was observed only in 15% (6 patients). Analysis of the effectiveness of combination antiviral therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C genotype 1 of the virus has set it differs depending on the genotype of the gene IL28V. Thus, was found that stable virological response (SVR) was observed mainly in patients with C/C genotype (at 75.33%) and occurred in 1.9 and 2.9 times higher in comparison with patients who were carriers C/T (39.9%) and T/T (25.9%) genotypes gene IL28V. Conclusions: The presence of C/C genotype IL28V gene may be a prognostic predictors of efficiency dual combination antiviral therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C genotype 1 of the virus (SVR was recorded at 75.3%).