Vitamin D status and CYP27B1-1260 promoter polymorphism in hepatitis C virus-infected children and its effect on response to interferon-α-based treatment

Background Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of chronic liver disease with significant morbidity and mortality. Recent evidence suggests that vitamin D through its immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and antifibrotic properties may affect clinical outcomes and treatment response in HCV infection. Aim The aim was to study the vitamin D status in children with chronic HCV infection and the relation of serum levels of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25OHD), 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol [1,25(OH)2D], and genetic polymorphism of 1α-hydroxylase (CYP27B1-1260 rs10877012) to the response to interferon-α (IFN-α)-based therapy. Patients and methods This cross-sectional case-controlled study included 30 children diagnosed with chronic HCV infection who were compared with 20 age-matched, sex-matched, and pubertal stage-matched clinically normal controls. The patients were divided into two groups according to their response to HCV treatment by pegylated IFN-α and ribavirin: responders (10 patients) and nonresponders (20 patients). Anthropometric measurements, clinical examination, abdominal ultrasound, liver biopsy, liver functions, and measurement of HCV RNA by PCR before and after treatment were done for the patients, whereas serum 25OHD level, 1,25(OH)2D level, and molecular studies were done for both patients and controls. Results Compared with controls, patients had significant deficiency of both 25OHD and 1,25(OH)2D (30.5±6.7 vs. 60±15.7 ng/ml and 16.77±1.828...
Source: Egyptian Liver Journal - Category: Gastroenterology Tags: Original articles Source Type: research