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Variation in the IL28B gene, which encodes interferon-λ, was recently identified as a predictor of response to hepatitis C virus (HCV) therapy (JW Gastroenterol Oct 16 2009). To identify potential genetic predictors of both response to therapy and spontaneous clearance of HCV infection, researchers in Switzerland genotyped more than 500,000 polymorphisms in 1362 HCV patients, 347 of whom spontaneously cleared the infection; 33% of the 1362 were coinfected with HIV.
The minor allele rs8099917, located near IL28B, was the polymorphism most strongly associated with chronic HCV infection (regardless of patient HIV status) and with failure to respond to interferon-based treatment. The allele was found in 24% of patients with spontaneous HCV clear…