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IL 28 B genotype is not useful for predicting treatment outcome in A sian chronic hepatitis B patients treated with pegylated interferon‐α
Author(s) -
Holmes Jacinta A,
Nguyen Tin,
Ratnam Dilip,
Heerasing Neel M,
Tehan Jane V,
Bonanzinga Sara,
Dev Anouk,
Bell Sally,
Pianko Stephen,
Chen Robert,
Visvanathan Kumar,
Hammond Rachel,
Iser David,
Rusli Ferry,
Sievert William,
Desmond Paul V,
Bowden D Scott,
Thompson Alexander J
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of gastroenterology and hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.214
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1440-1746
pISSN - 0815-9319
DOI - 10.1111/jgh.12110
Subject(s) - medicine , hbeag , genotype , pegylated interferon , gastroenterology , hepatitis b virus , immunology , hepatitis b , entecavir , seroconversion , chronic hepatitis , hbsag , lamivudine , virus , biology , ribavirin , biochemistry , gene
Background and Aim IL 28 B genotype predicts response to pegylated interferon (peg‐ IFN )‐based therapy in chronic hepatitis C . However, the utility of IL 28 B genotyping in chronic hepatitis B ( CHB ) cohorts treated with peg‐ IFN is unclear. It was investigated whether IL 28 B genotype is associated with peg‐ IFN treatment outcomes in a predominantly A sian CHB cohort. Methods This was a retrospective analysis of CHB patients treated with 48 weeks of peg‐ IFN monotherapy. IL 28 B genotype (rs12979860) was determined ( TaqMan allelic discrimination kit). Baseline hepatitis B virus ( HBV )‐ DNA , alanine aminotransferase, and liver histology were available. The primary end‐points were HBV e antigen ( HBeAg ) seroconversion with HBV ‐ DNA < 2000 IU / mL 24 weeks post‐therapy ( HBeAg ‐positive patients) and HBV ‐ DNA < 2000 IU / mL 24 weeks after peg‐ IFN ( HBeAg ‐negative patients). The association between IL 28 B genotype and peg‐ IFN outcomes was analyzed. Results IL 28 B genotype was determined for 96 patients. Eighty‐eight percent were A sian, 62% were HBeAg positive, and 13% were META VIR stage F3‐4. Median follow‐up time was 39.3 months. The majority of patients carried the CC IL 28 B genotype (84%). IL 28 B genotype did not differ according to HBeAg status. The primary end‐points were achieved in 27% of HBeAg ‐positive and 61% of HBeAg ‐negative patients. There was no association between IL 28 B genotype and the primary end‐point in either group. Furthermore, there was no difference in HBeAg loss alone, HBV surface antigen, alanine aminotransferase normalization, or on‐treatment HBV ‐ DNA levels according to IL 28 B genotype. Conclusions In the context of a small possible effect size and high frequency in A sian populations, IL 28 B genotyping is likely to have, at best, limited clinical utility for predicting peg‐ IFN treatment outcome for CHB patients in the A sia– P acific region.