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Updated: Feb 2, 2026

A Protocol for Analyzing Hepatitis C Virus Replication
Published on: June 26, 2014
IL-28β gene polymorphism determines virological response to PEGylated interferon therapy in hepatitis C virus
Nashwa El-Khazragy1, Naglaa El Sayed2, Ahmed M Salem3
1Department of Clinical Pathology and Hematology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
Background:
PEGylated interferon (PEG-IFN) in combination with ribavirin is the gold standard for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV). The majority of patients received PEG-IFN/ribavirin achieve a sustained viral response (SVR), but few cases failed to respond. It was evident that host genetic factors determine the treatment-induced viral clearance as well as spontaneous response. In the current study, the rs12979860 polymorphism of IL28β gene was analyzed and its association with the virological response to PEG-IFN treatment was determined.
Methods:
One hundred and fifty Egyptian patients with HCV genotype 4 treated with PEG-IFN/ribavirin were assessed at 12 and 24 weeks of therapy, the rs12979860 genotype was determined using TaqMan-based quantitative polymerase chain reaction.
Results:
Although the CC genotype was the most frequent (58%), the higher SVR was achieved for patients with favorable CC genotype (93%) in contrast to CT and TT genotypes.
Conclusion:
we conclude that IL28B polymorphism is highly associated with SVR to therapy in the Egyptian population infected with HCV genotype 4 and patients who carry CC genotype have a higher chance of SVR.
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