Study of IL28B gene variation as a predictor of response to directly acting antiviral therapy in hepatic transplantation hepatitis C Egyptian patients

Abstract Background IL28B gene polymorphisms are associated with the response to antiviral therapy in hepatitis C patients in the non-transplant setting. Objective To determine the prevalence and impact on clinical outcomes of donor and recipient IL28B genotypes among liver transplant recipients receiving directly acting antiviral therapy compared to those of HCV non-transplant patients. Patient and Methods This study included 60 patients divided into 2 groups: group 1 included 30 patients subjected to living donor liver transplantation and group 2 included 30 patients of HCV infection. Each group was subdivided into group A and group B according to the regimen of directly acting antiviral therapy (sofosbuvir-ledibasvir, sofosbuvir-daclatasvir). Liver transplantation was done between January 2016 and April 2018. Genotyping of the polymorphism was performed on DNA collected from all donors and recipients in group 1 before and after liver transplantation and also collected from all patients of group 2. Sustained virological response was found in 28 patients in group 1 (transplanted group) and 29 patients in group 2 (non-transplanted group) with no significant difference. Results No significant difference also was found in both groups according to the type of regimen. Also the type of genotype CC, CT and TT of IL28B in donors and recipients were not significantly associated or affecting the results of SVR in both groups of patients. Conclusion Our results support no role of recipient IL28B genotype in the response to directly acting antiviral drugs for hepatitis C recurrence. Interestingly, donor genotype seems not to influence the response pattern in recipients who have different IL28B genotype.