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Are IL28B Gene Variations Associated with Outcomes in People with Hepatitis B?

IL28B gene patterns may influence response to interferon therapy for hepatitis B, but this is not as straightforward as it is for hepatitis C, according to a set of studies presented at the recent American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases "Liver Meeting" (AASLD 2010) in Boston. Two analyses suggested that people with the protective rs12979860 C/C pattern were more likely to achieve sustained virological suppression with interferon, but less likely to experience HBeAg seroconversion. A third study, however, found no link between rs12979860 pattern and hepatitis B or HIV persistence or progression.

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