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Recent studies have shown that host IL28B polymorphisms are associated with sustained virologic response in patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). Specifically, IL28B genotype CC is linked with significantly higher rates of response than genotypes TT and CT (JW Gastroenterol Nov 5 2010). Now, investigators explore such an association in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.
The study cohort comprised hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive patients with HBV infection who received peginterferon alfa-2a or -2b while enrolled in various studies between 1988 and 2008 in Europe and Asia. IL28B genotyping was performed on banked serum. The primary endpoint was HBeAg seroconversion (loss of HBeAg and development of anti-HBe), whi…