Role of IL-28B and inosine triphosphatase polymorphisms in efficacy and safety of Peg-Interferon and ribavirin in chronic hepatitis C compensated cirrhosis with and without oesophageal varices.

Genetic factors can influence the outcome of antiviral therapy in chronic hepatitis C (HCV). We evaluated the role of interleukin-28B single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and inosine triphosphatase (ITPA) gene variants in HCV cirrhosis treated with Peg-Interferon and ribavirin. A prospective cohort of 233 patients with compensated cirrhosis received 1-1.5 μg/kg/week of Peg-Interferon alpha-2b plus 1000-1200 mg/day of RBV for 48 weeks. A sustained virologic response (SVR) was achieved in 27% of patients. On multivariate logistic analysis, the absence of oesophageal varices (OR 3.64 CI 95% 1.27-10.44 P = 0.016), infection with genotype 2 or 3 (OR 4.06, CI 95% 1.08-15.26, P = 0.038), C/C alleles of rs12979860 SNP (OR 7.04, CI 95% 2.40-20.72, P < 0.001) and rapid virologic response (RVR) (OR 78.29, CI 95% 16.07-381.29, P < 0.001) were independently associated with SVR. Patients who experienced post-treatment relapse received lower total doses of Peg-Interferon (52.0 ± 15.8 μg/kg vs 65.7 ± 13.3 μg/kg, P < 0.001) and lower total dose of RBV (3829 ± 1210 mg vs 4709 ± 954 mg, P < 0.001) than patients who achieved an SVR. ITPA variants predictive of high ITPase activity were associated with reduction of haemoglobin ≥3 g/dL in the first 4 weeks (P < 0.001), and with reduction of haemoglobin <10 g/dL (P = 0.03) on treatment. In conclusion, combination therapy with Peg-Interferon and RBV in patients with HCV cirrhosis must be guided by virus genotype, severity of portal hypertension, favourable IL-28B polymorphisms and ITPA variants, and RVR on treatment.