Impact of hepatitis C virus core mutations on the response to interferon-based treatment in chronic hepatitis C.

ABSTRACT:

Aim

To determine whether hepatitis C virus (HCV) core substitutions play a role in the response to interferon-based treatment in Caucasian patients.

Methods

One hundred eight HCV chronically infected patients initiating treatment with pegylated IFN plus ribavirin for 48 wk were tested for baseline substitutions at codons 70 and 91 of the viral core protein (BigDye Terminator vers.3.1, Applied Biosystems,) and for genetic polymorphisms in host IL28B gene rs12979860 (Custom TaqMan 5' allelic discrimination assay; Applied Biosystems).

Results

Of the patients, all were infected with HCV genotype 1b, 44.4% had low baseline HCV viral load, and 37.9% had mild/moderate fibrosis. Only 38.9% achieved therapeutic success, defined as sustained virological response (SVR). E

SUBMITTER: Sultana C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5055871 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature