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AimTo investigate the early viral kinetics and interleukin-28B (IL28B) polymorphisms of hepatitis C genotype 6 during pegylated interferon and ribavirin therapy.MethodsSixty-five patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection treated with pegylated interferon and ribavirin (PEG-IFN/RBV) were included, of whom 15 (23.1%), 16 (24.6%) and 34 (52.3%) patients were infected with hepatitis C genotype 1 (HCV-1), genotype 3 (HCV-3) and genotype 6 (HCV-6), respectively. Serum HCV-RNA levels were measured frequently during the first 4-wk of therapy. DNA extracted from samples was analyzed for the IL28B single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs12979860 by polymerase chain reaction and direct sequencing.ResultsDuring the first 4-wk of therapy, the mean viral decline for patients with HCV-6 (5.55 ± 1.82 log₁₀IU/mL) was comparable to that of patients with HCV-3 (5.55 ± 1.82 log₁₀IU/mL vs 5.86 ± 1.02 log₁₀IU/mL, P = 0.44) and was significantly higher than patients with HCV-1 (5.55 ± 1.82 log₁₀IU/mL vs 4.23 ± 1.99 log₁₀IU/mL, P = 0.04). In the HCV-6 group, the first phase (days 0-2) viral decline was significantly higher in patients with the favorable rs12979860 CC than non-CC genotypes (2.46 ± 1.01 log₁₀IU/mL/wk vs 1.70 ± 0.67 log₁₀IU/mL, respectively, P = 0.045). A statistically insignificant decrease in the second-phase (days 7-28) decline was also found in patients with the CC genotype than those with the non-CC genotype, though not significantly different (1.24 ± 0.64 log₁₀IU/mL/wk vs 0.80 ± 0.65 log₁₀IU/mL/wk, respectively, P = 0.172). At baseline, the SNP genotype was an independent predictor of rapid virological response but not of sustained virological response.ConclusionThe IL28B genotype was linked to an impact on early viral kinetics in response to PEG-IFN/RBV therapy in HCV-6 infected patients.

Original publication

DOI

10.3748/wjg.v20.i30.10599

Type

Journal article

Journal

World journal of gastroenterology

Publication Date

08/2014

Volume

20

Pages

10599 - 10605

Addresses

Srunthron Akkarathamrongsin, Vo Duy Thong, Yong Poovorawan, Center of Excellence in Clinical Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.

Keywords

Humans, Hepacivirus, Hepatitis C, Chronic, Polyethylene Glycols, Interferons, Interferon-alpha, Recombinant Proteins, RNA, Viral, Ribavirin, Interleukins, Antiviral Agents, Treatment Outcome, Drug Therapy, Combination, Viral Load, Prospective Studies, Kinetics, Genotype, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Adult, Middle Aged, Female, Male, Biomarkers