Effects of Polymorphisms in Interferon λ 3 ( Interleukin 28B ) on Sustained Virologic Response to Therapy in Patients With Chronic Hepatitis D Virus Infection

• Published in: Clinical gastroenterology and hepatology Vol. 12; no. 10; pp. 1753 - 1758
• Main Authors: Yilmaz, Emre, Baran, Bulent, Soyer, Ozlem Mutluay, Onel, Mustafa, Onel, Derya, Ormeci, Asli Cifcibasi, Gokturk, Suut, Evirgen, Sami, Akyuz, Filiz, Demir, Kadir, Besisik, Fatih, Kaymakoglu, Sabahattin, Karaca, Cetin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.10.2014
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Chronic Delta Hepatitis; Cohort Studies; Female; Gastroenterology and Hepatology; Genetic Association Studies; Genotype; Hepatitis D, Chronic - drug therapy; Hepatitis Delta Virus - isolation & purification; Humans; Immune Regulation; Interferon Lambda 3; Interferon-alpha - therapeutic use; Interferons; Interleukins - genetics; Male; Middle Aged; Models, Statistical; Polymorphism, Genetic; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; Retrospective Studies; RNA, Viral - blood; SNP; Treatment Outcome; Viral Load; Young Adult; INFL3; CDH; hepatitis B virus; Chronic Delta Hepatitis; hepatitis B e antigen; SVR; IFN; SNP; melting temperature; Immune Regulation; hepatitis C virus; Tm; HDV; interleukin; sustained virologic response; HBV; polymerase chain reaction; IL; hepatitis B surface antigen; HBeAg; HBsAg; interferon; hepatitis D virus; HCV; Interferon Lambda 3; PCR
• ISSN: 1542-3565; 1542-7714
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cgh.2014.01.043

Background & Aims We investigated the association between interferon λ 3 ( IFNL3 ) genotype (also known as interleukin 28B) and response to IFNα therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis D virus (HDV) infection. Methods We studied IFNL3 genotypes of 32 patients (19 men; median age, 42.5 y) with chronic HDV infection. Nineteen patients (59%) were treated with pegylated IFNα and 13 patients (41%) were treated with standard IFNα, for at least 12 months. Levels of HDV RNA were measured before the initiation of treatment and every 6 months thereafter; patients were followed up for a median time of 16 months (range, 6–164 mo) after treatment ended. We used real-time polymerase chain reaction to classify the IFNL3 polymorphism rs12979860 as CC, CT, or TT, and rs8099917 as TT, GT, or GG. A virologic response was defined as undetectable HDV RNA in serum, and a sustained virologic response (SVR) was defined as undetectable HDV RNA after cessation of treatment until the end of the follow-up period. We evaluated the association between IFNL3 polymorphism and treatment response using univariate and multivariate analyses. Results After treatment, a response was achieved in 16 patients (50%) and an SVR was achieved in 9 (28%). The percentages of patients with CC, CT, and TT at rs12979860 were 47%, 47%, and 6%, respectively; the percentages of patients with TT, GT, and GG at rs8099917 were 69%, 28%, and 3%, respectively. Rates of SVR were 27%, 27%, and 50% in patients with CC, CT, TT at rs12979860 ( P  = .78 for CC vs CT vs TT) and 36%, 11%, and 0% in patients with TT, GT, and GG at rs8099917 ( P  = .30 for TT vs GT vs GG). Conclusions The IFNL3 polymorphisms rs12979860 and rs8099917 do not significantly affect responses of patients with chronic HDV infection to treatment with IFNα.