title: Association of vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms with response to peginterferon plus ribavirin in Asian patients with chronic hepatitis C.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Recent studies have shown that serum vitamin D deficiency is a negative predictor of response to peginterferon plus ribavirin therapy for Caucasian patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC). Whether vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms associate with antiviral response in Asian CHC patients remains unclear.
  
  
  METHODS
  We recruited 139 Asian patients with CHC genotype-1 who achieved 80/80/80 adherence of response-guided peginterferon plus ribavirin therapy. BsmI rs1544410, ApaI rs7975232, and TaqI rs731236 were genotyped and related to clinical and virological features and to treatment outcome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients carrying bAt [CCA] haplotype (p=0.033), ApaI CC genotype (p = 0.033), and TaqI AA genotype (p = 0.037) had a higher HCV load as compared to those with other haplotypes, ApaI CA/AA genotype and TaqI AG genotype, respectively. A sustained virological response (SVR) was achieved in 74 (53%) of the patients. Polymorphisms in VDR gene did not correlate with rapid virological response and SVR achievement. Stepwise logistic regression analysis showed that rs12979860 CC type [odds ratio (OR): 5.56, p=0.007], platelet counts ≥ 15 × 10(10)/L (OR: 4.80, p=0.001), and rapid virological response achievement (OR: 8.36, p<0.001) were independent factors of SVR.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite their associations with high hepatitis C virus load, VDR gene polymorphisms are not related to the response to peginterferon plus ribavirin therapy in Asian CHC patients.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hepatogastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Kaohsiung Medical Center, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Electronic address: chh4366@yahoo.com.tw.
authors.forename: Chao-Hung
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Hung
authors.affiliation: Division of Hepatogastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Kaohsiung Medical Center, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Tsung-Hui
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Division of Hepatogastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Kaohsiung Medical Center, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Sheng-Nan
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Division of Hepatogastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Kaohsiung Medical Center, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chien-Hung
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Division of Hepatogastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Kaohsiung Medical Center, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Jing-Houng
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Division of Hepatogastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Kaohsiung Medical Center, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chuan-Mo
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006239:Haplotypes; D016174:Hepacivirus; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol / Q000235:genetics*; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013624:Taiwan; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol; C579457:VDR protein, human; D012254:Ribavirin
keywords: Asia; hepatitis C; interferon; sustained virological response; vitamin D receptor