Abstract

The natural outcome of hepatitis C infection varies dramatically among individuals. Host genetic factors may affect the clinical outcome of hepatitis C virus. Many studies have focused on the role of cytokine gene polymorphisms on natural outcome of HCV. Aim of the work: The aim of the present study is to determine the genotypes and allele frequency of interleukin 10- 1082 G/A (rs 1800896) gene and interleukin 12? -1188 A/C (rs 3212227) gene polymorphisms among Egyptian hemodialysis patients to assess their role on susceptibility and outcome of hepatitis C viral infection Patients and methods: This cross-sectional study included one hundred patients on regular hemodialysis for more than six months. They consisted of two groups; HCV-Ab positive and negative patients. Positive patients were confirmed by HCV-RNA at dialysis initiation. Our study repeated HCV-RNA for HCV positive patients, further subdividing them into persistent infection and viral clearance groups, according to presence or absence of HCV-RNA. All groups were subjected to genotyping for polymorphisms in IL 10 -1082 A/G and IL12b -1188 AC using PCR-RFLP method. Results: Although the HCV antibody negative and spontaneous clearance groups had higher frequency of the wild genotype of IL-10 1082 (AA) and of the mutant genotypes of IL-12b 1188 (AC and CC), this was not statistically significant. There was no association between IL-10 1082 A/G and IL-12b 1188AC gene polymorphisms and outcome of hepatitis C virus infection.

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