IL ‐28 B polymorphisms and the response to antiviral therapy in HCV genotype 2 and 3 varies by ethnicity: a meta‐analysis

Summary Studies of IL ‐28 B genotype in patients with hepatitis C virus ( HCV ) genotype 2/3 infection have yielded conflicting results. The aim of this meta‐analysis was to obtain a pooled odds ratio ( OR ) of the impact of IL ‐28 B genotype on achieving sustained virologic response ( SVR ) in patients with HCV genotype 2/3 infection treated with peg IFN and ribavirin. A meta‐analysis with a random effects model was performed, and study heterogeneity and publication bias were assessed. Forty‐three percent of the C aucasians (11 studies) and 86% of A sians (five studies) had the favourable IL ‐28 B genotype. In C aucasians, the pooled OR of SVR with the favourable IL ‐28 B genotype was 1.36 (95% CI : 0.98–1.88, P  = 0.07) in all patients and 1.55 (95% CI : 1.10–2.18, P  = 0.01) in patients treated with peg IFN and ribavirin for ≥24 weeks. In A sians, the pooled OR of SVR in patients with the favourable IL ‐28 B genotype was 1.99 (95% CI : 0.94–4.25, P  = 0.07). The favourable IL ‐28 B genotype was also significantly associated with rapid virologic response ( RVR ) in both groups ( C aucasians: OR : 1.82, 95% CI : 1.12–2.96, P  = 0.02; A sians: 2.39, 95% CI : 1.39–4.11, P  = 0.002), as well as the likelihood of an SVR in a subgroup of 350 C aucasian patients without an RVR ( OR : 3.29, 95% CI : 1.67–6.51, P  = 0.001). The favourable IL ‐28 B genotype is a statistically significant predictor of SVR and RVR in Caucasian patients treated with peg IFN and ribavirin for 24 weeks. In contrast, the favourable IL ‐28 B genotype is associated with RVR , but not SVR in A sian HCV genotype 2 patients.