title: IL-28B polymorphisms correlated with treatment response in HCV-4 mono-infected patients: a meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The role of interleukin 28B (IL-28B) polymorphisms played in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been gradually explicit, especially in HCV genotype 1, 2 and 3. However, no confirmative conclusion was acquired in genotype 4 HCV patients. Thus we conducted this meta-analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We searched the commonly used databases both in English and Chinese. Meta-analysis was performed in fixed/random effects models using STATA 12.0 or R software. Publication bias was examined through Egger's test and Begg's funnel plot.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 11 studies were included in this meta-analysis, encompassing 1284 patients who were mono-infected with HCV-4 and received Peg-interferon (Peg-IFN) plus Ribavirin (Rbv). Around 53.0% patients would achieve sustained virologic response (SVR), 36.6% achieve rapid virologic response (RVR) and 62.4% achieve end of treatment response (ETR). Egyptian patients had a higher rate achieving SVR than non-Egyptian patients (56.3% vs. 47.8%). IL-28B rs12979860 CC genotype not only favored SVR (OR = 3.95, 95%CI = 3.03-5.16), regardless of citizenship, but also favored RVR (OR = 3.82, 95%CI = 2.46-5.95) and ETR (OR = 4.22, 95%CI = 2.81-6.34). IL-28B rs8099917 genotype TT also correlated with SVR (OR = 3.41, 95%CI = 1.92-6.07), but might not with RVR. IL-28B rs12980275 might still correlate with SVR, but warrant more studies to validate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The favorable IL-28B rs12979860 genotype is a statistically significant predictor of SVR, RVR and ETR in HCV-4 monoinfected patients treated with Peg-IFN plus Rbv. Rs8099917 might predict SVR but not RVR. Egyptian HCV-4 patients would achieve better outcomes than non-Egyptian patients when treated with standard care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, Binzhou, Shandong, China.
authors.forename: Tonggang
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Binzhou Medical University School of Nursing, Binzhou, Shandong, China.
authors.forename: Kaihui
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sha
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, Binzhou, Shandong, China.
authors.forename: Luhua
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, Binzhou, Shandong, China.
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, Binzhou, Shandong, China.
authors.forename: Liguo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, Binzhou, Shandong, China.
authors.forename: Xianxian
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, Binzhou, Shandong, China.
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007372:Interferons; D007378:Interleukins / Q000235:genetics*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011379:Prognosis; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000095022:Interferon Lambda
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D007372:Interferons; D007378:Interleukins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin; C000624353:interferon-lambda, human; D000095022:Interferon Lambda; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b