IL28B and PNPLA3 Polymorphisms Affect Histological Liver Damage in Patients with Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

Background & Aims: Genetic background may affect liver damage in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The main outcomes of the study were to assess whether IL28B rs12979860 and rs8099917 polymorphisms, together with PNPLA3 rs738409 C>G polymorphism, are associated with lobular inflammation and fibrosis, in NAFLD patients. Methods: One hundred sixty consecutive NAFLD patients were assessed by liver biopsy (Kleiner score); anthropometric, and biochemical and metabolic features were included. IL28B rs12979860 C>T, IL28B rs8099917 G>C, and PNPLA3 rs738409 C>G single nucleotide polymorphisms were tested. Results: Seventy-four (46.2%) patients had IL28B rs12979860 CC polymorphism, compared with 72 (45%) and 14 (8.8%) with TC and TT variants, respectively. PNPLA3 rs738409 CC polymorphism was present in 47 (29.4%) patients, compared with 79 (49.4%) and 34 (21.3%) with CG and GG variants, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age (OR 1.043, 95% CI 1.012-1.075, p = 0.007), triglycerides (OR 1.005, 95% CI 1.000-1.010, p = 0.04), hyperuricemia (OR 5.027, 95% CI 1.839-13.742, p = 0.002), IL28B rs12979860 TT/TC (OR 0.219, 95% CI 0.101-0.472, p