IL28B polymorphisms predict reduction of HCV RNA from the first day of therapy in chronic hepatitis C

Background & Aims Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with IL28B influence the outcome of peginterferon-α/ribavirin therapy of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. We analyzed the kinetics of HCV RNA during therapy as a function of IL28B SNPs. Methods IL28B SNPs rs8099917, rs12979860, and rs12980275 were genotyped in 242 HCV treatment-naïve Caucasian patients (67% genotype 1, 28% genotype 2 or 3) receiving peginterferon-α2a (180 μg weekly) and ribavirin (1000–1200 mg daily) with serial HCV-RNA quantifications. Associations between IL28B polymorphisms and early viral kinetics were assessed, accounting for relevant covariates. Results In the multivariate analyses for genotype 1 patients, the T allele of rs12979860 (Trs12979860 ) was an independent risk factor for a less pronounced first phase HCV RNA decline (log10 0.89 IU/ml among T carriers vs. 2.06 among others, adjusted p