Short Communication: Does Interleukin-28B Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms Influence the Natural History of Hepatitis B?

Abstract Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) nearby the IL28B gene have been associated with spontaneous hepatitis C virus (HCV) clearance and response to interferon-based therapies in both monoinfected and HIV-coinfected patients. However, its impact on spontaneous clearance of HBV (the pathogenesis of which is also related to interferon) is less known. A case-control study was performed. Cases were 49 HIV+ patients with chronic hepatitis B (HBsAg+ for more than 6 months) who had been genotyped for the rs12979860 SNP (protective CC genotype). One control for each case was chosen among HIV patients with anti-HBs and anti-HBc. Controls were matched for gender and coinfection with HCV. Most patients were male (90%) and the median (IQR) age was 42.6 (39–46.7) years. Eighteen (36.7%) were also coinfected by HCV. Among HBsAg+ patients, 19 (41.3%) were HBeAg+ and 13 (26.5%) were also infected with hepatitis delta (HDV). No differences were found in the distribution of the CC genotype between patients with chr...