Prediction of PEGylated INF-α Treatment Response in Hepatitis B Patients

Abstract

Genetic polymorphisms can influence the response to antiviral therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). The variability in treatment response is multifactorial, and genetic factors play a role in how individuals metabolize and respond to antiviral medications. Wang and colleagues investigated the genetic association of the IL-6 rs1800796 polymorphism with PEGylated IFN-α (PegIFN-α) treatment response in hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive CHB patients. After sequencing the patients’ samples, they found that more patients with the combined response (n = 95) carried IL-6 rs1800796 GC genotypes, while CC genotype carriers possessed reduced HBeAg seroconversion rate and high values of hepatitis B virus DNA. They also found that PegIFN-α treatment response was also associated with the baseline HBsAg and HBeAg and IL-6 rs1800796 CC genotype. The authors concluded that PegIFN-α response may be predicted by detecting IL-6 rs1800796 genotype in CHB patients.  Per Med. 2023 Nov;20(6):503-510.  doi: 10.2217/pme-2023-0089.