title: Association of plasma interleukin-18 levels and polymorphisms in interleukin-18 gene with outcomes of hepatitis C virus infections: a meta-analysis.
abstract: Several polymorphisms in the interleukin-18 (IL-18) gene and plasma IL-18 levels have been reported to influence hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. However, the published findings have been conflicting. We conducted meta-analyses of randomized, controlled trials to address the association of IL-18 polymorphisms and plasma IL-18 levels and the outcomes of HCV infection. The results showed that there was no evidence for an association between the HCV infections and the polymorphisms genotypes of IL-18. However, plasma IL-18 levels were found higher in HCV infection patients than in healthy controls. The pooled SMD was 2.911(95% CI 2.556-3.265, z = 16.09, P < 0.001).
authors.affiliation: a Department of Laboratory Science , Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University , Wuhan , China.
authors.forename: Zhi Li
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Niu
authors.forename: Ping An
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yong Qing
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Tong
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
chemical_list: C000589760:IL18 protein, human; D020382:Interleukin-18
keywords: Chronic hepatitis C; IL-18; Meta-analysis; Plasma; Polymorphisms