Genetic polymorphism in IL28B is associated with spontaneous clearance of hepatitis C virus genotype 4 infection in an Egyptian cohort.

South Egypt Cancer Institute

Assiut University

Genetic polymorphism in IL28B is associated with spontaneous clearance of hepatitis C virus genotype 4 infection in an Egyptian cohort.

Research Authors
Kurbanov F, Abdel-Hamid M, Latanich R, Astemborski J, Mohamed M, Mikhail NM, El-Daly M, El-Kafrawy S, Thomas DL, Thio CL
Research Member
Nabiel Nazmi Hanna Mikhail
Research Department
Department of Biostatistics and Cancer Epidemiology
Research Year
2011
Research Journal
J Infect Dis.
Research Vol
204(9)
Research Rank
1
Research_Pages
1391-4.
Research Website
http://jid.oxfordjournals.org/content/204/9/1391.long
Research Abstract

Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) around IL28B are associated with spontaneous hepatitis C virus (HCV) clearance of genotypes 1 and 3 in white and African-American populations. This study investigated whether the IL28B SNP (rs12979860) is associated with spontaneous clearance of HCV, principally genotype 4, in 162 Egyptians (80 with clearance). The protective C allele was more common in those with spontaneous clearance (76.3% vs 57.9%; P = .0006). Individuals with clearance were 3.4 (95% confidence interval, 1.8-6.5) times more likely to have C/C genotype. Thus, IL28B plays a role in spontaneous clearance of HCV genotype 4 in North Africa.