Association of IL28B polymorphisms with virological response to peginterferon and ribavirin therapy in children and adolescents with chronic hepatitis C

Aim: The objective of the current study was to find baseline predictive factors of response to therapy with pegylated interferon and ribavirin (PEG-IFN/RBV therapy) in children and adolescents with chronic hepatitis C.

Methods: IL28B genotype and mutations in the core of hepatitis C virus (HCV) were analyzed in 30 patients treated with PEG-IFN/RBV for HCV infection. The initial rate of decrease in the viral load was assessed during the first 2 weeks of treatment.

Results: IL28B major allele was seen more frequently in patients with sustained virologic response (SVR) than in non-SVR patients (P < 0.001). There was no difference between these two groups in frequency of Core 70 mutation. Among patients with genotype-1, SVR was achieved in more patients (P = 0.007) in the IL28B major allele group than in those in the minor allele group. The early decrements in the viral load (log/2 weeks) were 3.80 ± 0.86 in the genotype-2 major allele group, 1.82 ± 0.84 in the genotype-1 major allele group, and 0.41 ± 0.33 in the genotype-1 minor allele group.

Conclusions: Among pediatric patients with HCV infection the effectiveness of PEG-IFN/RBV therapy may be lower in the group with genotype-1 IL28B minor alleles than in other groups with IL28B major allele. Treatment strategy should be carefully implemented in patients with IL28B unfavorable type.