Human leukocyte antigen DRB1 and the response to pegylated interferon/ribavirin therapy with chronic hepatitis C in children

ABSTRACT

Background: Egypt has the highest prevalence of hepatitis C virus [HCV] infection in the world [15%-25%] and the main [90%] genotype is type 4. Prevalence in Egyptian children was found to be 3% in Upper Egypt and 9% in Lower Egypt. Various human leucocytic antigen [HLA] alleles have been linked either persistence or clearance of the hepatitis C virus [HCV]. Several studies have aimed to identify the involvement of HLA with different outcomes of HCV infection, but the results have not been consistent