Meta-Analysis
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World J Hepatol. Oct 27, 2014; 6(10): 759-765
Published online Oct 27, 2014. doi: 10.4254/wjh.v6.i10.759
Predictability of IL-28B-polymorphism on protease-inhibitor-based triple-therapy in chronic HCV-genotype-1 patients: A meta-analysis
Nicolae-Catalin Mechie, Christian Röver, Silke Cameron, Ahmad Amanzada
Nicolae-Catalin Mechie, Silke Cameron, Ahmad Amanzada, Department of Gastroenterology and Endocrinology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Georg-August-University, 37075 Goettingen, Germany
Christian Röver, Department of Medical Statistics, University Medical Center Goettingen, Georg-August-University, 37073 Goettingen, Germany
Author contributions: Mechie NC and Röver C contributed equally; Mechie NC works as resident, specializing in gastroenterology and hepatology; the statistical analysis was performed by Röver C; he is medical statistician; Amanzada A formulated the study concept; he is specialized in internal medicine, his research focus is hepatology; Mechie NC and Amanzada A independently made the data extraction; Amanzada A, Mechie NC and Röver C analyzed the research quality and interpreted the data; Cameron S critically revised the manuscript for intellectual content; she is specialized in internal medicine and gastroenterology; all authors contributed to the writing of the manuscript and approved it.
Correspondence to: Dr. med. Ahmad Amanzada, MD, Division of Gastroenterology and Endocrinology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Georg-August-University, Robert-Koch-Straße 40, 37075 Goettingen, Germany. ahmad.amanzada@med.uni-goettingen.de
Telephone: +49-551-3920146 Fax: +49-551-396921
Received: June 6, 2014
Revised: July 29, 2014
Accepted: September 6, 2014
Published online: October 27, 2014
Processing time: 152 Days and 9.1 Hours
Core Tip

Core tip: Hepatitis C is a world health problem and represents a dynamic field of research for new therapeutic options. Recently direct antiviral agents such as protease inhibitors have been developed which, in addition to pegylated interferon-α and Ribavirin, obtain higher sustained virological response (SVR) rates. Of note, costs are higher and side effects are more common. The data regarding the predictive value of Interleukin 28B (IL-28B) are controversial. This meta-analysis was conducted on 2707 patients treated with different protease inhibitors. Its aim was to clarify the predictive value of IL-28B on SVR in protease inhibitor-based triple-therapy, allowing the possibility of personalized treatment.