title: Molecular assessment of vitamin D receptor polymorphism as a valid predictor to the response of interferon/ribavirin-based therapy in Egyptian patients with chronic hepatitis C.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to find an association between serum concentration of vitamin D and vitamin D receptor (VDR) polymorphisms to achieve a sustained virological response (SVR).
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a case-control study in which 250 participants were recruited and divided into three groups (100 chronic hepatitis C [CHC] patients who achieved SVR, 100 CHC patients who did not achieve SVR and 50 apparently healthy individuals as controls). Blood samples were collected to measure serum vitamin D concentration, and four VDR polymorphisms (FokI, ApaI, TaqI, and BsmI) were detected using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Non-responders were found to have significantly low vitamin D concentration compared with responders and control groups. Concerning VDR polymorphisms, both FokI and TaqI polymorphisms were associated with successful treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vitamin D concentration, FokI, and TaqI may be considered as the predictors for the response of CHC patients to a combination therapy of pegylated interferon and ribavirin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Misr International University, Cairo, Egypt. ahmed.gouda@miuegypt.edu.eg.
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abdelsalam
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Laila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rashed
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Tarek
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Salman
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Misr International University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Lamiaa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hammad
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Dina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sabry
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D006239:Haplotypes; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol / Q000235:genetics*; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000072230:Sustained Virologic Response; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D004338:Drug Combinations; D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol; D014807:Vitamin D; D012254:Ribavirin; D007372:Interferons; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D
keywords: hepatitis C virus; interferons; ribavirin; single nucleotide polymorphism; vitamin D receptor