title: Association between the epidermal growth factor rs4444903 G/G genotype and advanced fibrosis at a young age in chronic hepatitis C.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The epidermal growth factor (EGF) rs4444903 A>G polymorphism has been associated with the development of liver cancer, which commonly complicates cirrhosis of viral origin; however, whether this polymorphism might be associated with fibrosis progression in chronic viral hepatitis is unknown. The present study was performed to assess the allelic and genotypic frequencies of the rs4444903 A>G polymorphism in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus HCV infection and to ascertain whether this polymorphism might be an independent predictor of the degree of fibrosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  An RFLP-PCR technique was used to genotype 645 patients (211 with cirrhosis); 528 were referred for the diagnosis and treatment of chronic hepatitis C, and 117 were transplanted for HCV-related end stage liver disease. A group of 428 healthy subjects served as a control. All the subjects were of Caucasian ethnicity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The EGF rs4444903 A>G polymorphism genotype frequencies in HCV chronic infected patients were as follows: A/A=227 (35.3%), A/G=328 (50.9%), and G/G=90 (14.8%). Genotype frequencies were found to differ between patients with an Ishak staging score⩽2 (A/A=117, A/G=157, G/G=34) and patients with a score>2 (A/A=110, A/G=171, G/G=56, p=0.038). A highly significant linear relationship between increasing stage scores and EGF genotype was detected in younger patients (A/A: 2.02±0.18, A/G: 2.55±0.17, G/G: 3.00±0.32, p=0.008). However, no significant association was detected between the stage score and EGF genotype in older patients (A/A: 3.79±0.19, A/G: 3.64±0.15, G/G: 3.98±0.30 p=0.579).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The EGF rs4444903 A>G polymorphism may facilitate liver fibrosis progression in Caucasian patients with chronic hepatitis C, especially in younger patients.
authors: Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Udine, Italy.
authors: Edmondo
authors: E
authors: Falleti
authors: Sara
authors: S
authors: Cmet
authors: Carlo
authors: C
authors: Fabris
authors: Davide
authors: D
authors: Bitetto
authors: Annarosa
authors: A
authors: Cussigh
authors: Ezio
authors: E
authors: Fornasiere
authors: Eleonora
authors: E
authors: Bignulin
authors: Cristina
authors: C
authors: Feruglio
authors: Elena
authors: E
authors: Mosanghini
authors: Elisabetta
authors: E
authors: Fontanini
authors: Mario
authors: M
authors: Pirisi
authors: Pierluigi
authors: P
authors: Toniutto
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency / Q000235:genetics; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor