Role of IL-28B and inosine triphosphatase polymorphisms in efficacy and safety of Peg-Interferon and ribavirin in chronic hepatitis C compensated cirrhosis with and without oesophageal varices

Genetic factors can influence the outcome of antiviral therapy in chronic hepatitis C (HCV). We evaluated the role of interleukin‐28B single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and inosine triphosphatase (ITPA) gene variants in HCV cirrhosis treated with Peg‐Interferon and ribavirin. A prospective cohort of 233 patients with compensated cirrhosis received 1–1.5 μg/kg/week of Peg‐Interferon alpha‐2b plus 1000–1200 mg/day of RBV for 48 weeks. A sustained virologic response (SVR) was achieved in 27% of patients. On multivariate logistic analysis, the absence of oesophageal varices (OR 3.64 CI 95% 1.27–10.44 P = 0.016), infection with genotype 2 or 3 (OR 4.06, CI 95% 1.08–15.26, P = 0.038), C/C alleles of rs12979860 SNP (OR 7.04, CI 95% 2.40–20.72, P