Chao-Hung Hung1, Tsung-Hui Hu2, Sheng-Nan Lu2, Chien-Hung Chen2, Jing-Houng Wang2, Chuan-Mo Lee2. 1. 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. 2. Division of Hepatogastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Kaohsiung Medical Center, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Abstract
BACKGROUND/ PURPOSE: 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. CONCLUSION: 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.
BACKGROUND/ PURPOSE: 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 CHCpatients 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. CONCLUSION: 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 CHCpatients.