OBJECTIVE

Mixed cryoglobulinemia (MC) is an extra hepatic hepatitis C virus related problem and different studies suggested genetics' role in predicting this complication. We evaluated the influence of SNPs in IL-28B, SLC29A1, SLC28A2, NT5C2, HNF4 and ABCB1 genes in MC prediction.

METHODS

SNPs were evaluated through real-time PCR.

RESULTS

ABCB1 (gene encoding P-glycoprotein) 3435C>T SNP was associated with MC presence (p = 0.034): related to T allele carriers (CC vs CT/TT), we reached a p-value of 0.013. In the logistic regression analysis baseline viral load >600.000 IU/ml (p < 001), IL28B rs8099917/rs12979860 TT/CC (p < 0.001), NT5 (gene encoding for 5' nucleotidase) 153 TC (p = 0.012) and ABCB1 3435 CT/TT (p = 0.034) genotypes predicted MC presence.

CONCLUSIONS

These data could help clinicians to identify patients with higher probability to show MC extra hepatic complication.