Polymorphism in 1-cc Hydroxylase CYP27B1-1260 in Egyptian Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Genotype 4 and their Effect on the Response to Interferon Therapy

Background: Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infects 170 million people worldwide. Egypt has a high prevalence of hepatitis C Virus (HCV) and a high morbidity and mortality from chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. The most prevalent genotype in Egypt is 4a, which responds less successfully to treatment. We aimed to evaluate associa-tions of polymorphisms within gene encoding the 1α-hydroxylase with the virologic response of interferon-alfa based treatment in patients chronically infected with HCV genotypes 4. Subjects and Methods: Blood samples were taken from 103 patients who are suffering from chronic hepatitis C disease and prepared for interferon treatment. Also 30 blood samples from controls were taken. The following were done: History taking, general examination, liver function tests, hepatitis markers, HCV quantitation by real time PCR, DNA extraction from whole blood, PCR for gene amplification, and agarose gel electrophoresis. Results: Stepwise multivariate logistic regression showed that CYP27B 1- 1260 (p=0.009) were found to be significant predictors for response to interferon therapy of hepatitis C patients. Conclusion: 1α-hydroxylase promoter polymorphism CYP27B1-1260 is a significant predictor for response to interferon therapy of hepatitis C patients.