Genetic variation in IL28B and treatment outcome in HBeAg-positive and -negative chronic hepatitis B patients treated with Peg interferon alfa-2a and adefovir.

In a cohort of 95 chronic hepatitis B patients, who were treated with peg-interferon and adefovir for 1 year, and who had 15% HBsAg loss (overall), no association was found between IL28B polymorphisms and HBeAg seroconversion or HBsAg clearance. These findings suggest that any association with outcome, if present, is less than that seen in chronic hepatitis C. Additional studies are needed to enlarge sample size and to refine our understanding of IL28B biology in the context of chronic hepatitis B response to immunomodulatory and direct antiviral therapy.