The Role of IL28B Genotype in HCV-RNA Baseline Levels

notype for rs12979860/rs8099917 showed a significant correlation with higher HCVRNA levels, the presence of mixed cryoglobulinemia and insulin resistance. Furthermore, in our cohort of 541 patients affected by CHC and treated with PEGIFN/ribavirin we retrospectively evaluated baseline HCV-RNA according to the combined genotypes of IL28B rs8099917 and rs12979860. The results are as follows ( fig. 1 ): 192 patients presented the TT/ Dear Editor, The role of interleukin (IL)-28B has been described in the treatment response and the spontaneous clearance of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection [1] , but recently several studies have examined the effect of the IL28B genotype and the natural course of chronic hepatitis C (CHC), especially regarding the fibrosis progression and liver inflammation. In an interesting paper by Noureddin et al. [2] the IL28B rs12979860 CC genotype, already known for its higher response rate to pegylated interferon (PEGIFN) treatment, was associated with hepatic inflammation and worse clinical outcomes; also the rs8099917 GG genotype was associated with slower fibrosis progression than the TT genotype in Caucasian patients [3] . Another important contribution by Grebely et al. [4] highlighted the role of the IL28B genotype in HCV-RNA levels as an important factor that can affect the progression of fibrosis in CHC; however, the role of IL28B in influencing the baseline viral load is still poorly understood and considered in clinical studies. Patients with CC or TT genotypes present a higher baseline viral load than CT/TT or TG/GG genotypes, despite a greater chance of viral clearance or response to PEG-IFN. Regarding this finding, in our previous published study we reported that the IL28B genotypes were related both to baseline viremia and to the presence or absence of mixed cryoglobulinemia [5] . Patients with the TT/CC gePublished online: September 8, 2016