IL28B polymorphism is associated with fatty change in the liver of chronic hepatitis C patients

Background Several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the interleukin 28B (IL28B) locus are associated with sustained viral response in chronic hepatitis C (HCV) patients who were treated with pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) plus ribavirin (RBV) combination therapy. Recently, an association between gamma-GTP level and IL28B between IL28B genotype and liver steatosis was analyzed. Methods One hundred fifty-three patients who underwent liver biopsy before PEG-IFN plus RBV combination therapy were enrolled. The level of liver steatosis was measured using a BIOREVO BZ-9000 microscope, and the proportion of fatty change and clear cell change were calculated using Dynamic cell count BZ-H1C software. IL28B SNP genotype (rs8099917) was determined using the Invader Assay. Results Vesicular change was significantly associated with body mass index (BMI), HCV RNA titer, serum aspartate aminotransferase, gamma-GTP, IL28B genotype and liver fibrosis level (P < 0.05). Clear cell change was significantly associated with serum aspartate aminotransferase, gamma-GTP and IL28B genotype by univariate logistic regression analysis (P < 0.05). Under multiple logistic regression, IL28B genotype (ORadj = 8.158; 95% CI 2.412-27.589), liver fibrosis (ORadj = 2.541; 95% CI 1.040-6.207) and BMI (ORadj = 1.147; 95% CI 1.011-1.301) were significant independent factors for vesicular change and IL28B genotype (ORadj = 3.000; 95% CI 1.282-7.019) for clear cell change. Conclusion In this study, a new quantitative method to objectively evaluate hepatic steatosis was described. IL28B genotypes were significantly associated with both vesicular and clear cell changes of livers in chronic hepatitis C patients.