Role of Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha Promoter Polymorphisms in Interferon Related Side Effects in Chronic Hepatitis B Patients Under Interferon Alpha 2b Treatment

Objective: Interferon alpha therapy is associated with series of adverse ef-fects leading premature discontinuation of treatment. Here we aimed to de-termine the effects of Tumor necrosis alpha promoter polymorphisms on in-terferon related side effects during interferon alpha 2b treatment in chron-ic hepatitis B patients.Material and Methods: This observational study enrolled 50 chronic hepati-tis B patients, who were treated with interferon alpha 2b 10 tiw plus lamivu-dine 100mg/day at Selçuk University Meram Medical Faculty Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Bacteriology between 2006-2007. Patients were followed-up with complete blood count, transaminases and amylase monthly at out patient clinics of our department. All patients were asked to fill a questionnaire to evaluate the interferon related side effects at every vis-it. Tumor necrosis factor alpha -238 and -308 polymorphisms were investi-gated with PCR-Restriction fragment length polymorphisms.Results: Arthralgia was present in 93.8% of patients. Exhaustion, loss of ap-petite, mount dryness and fever are the leading complaints of the patients. Median complaint scores were 9, 9.5, 11 and 5 at 4th, 12th, 24th and 48th week visits, respectively. Thrombocytopenia and leucopenia were detected in 8 (16%) and 5 (10%) patients, respectively. One-third of the patients report-ed depressive mood however, depression was diagnosed in 5 (10%) patients. TNF alpha promoter 238GG and 308GG allele was present in 42/50 and 43/50 patients, respectively. No association was found between TNF pro-moter allele and certain patient-reported side effect, complaint score, hema-tological and psychological adverse effects. Conclusion: TNF alpha promoter polymorphisms do not contribute to oc-currence of IFN alpha treatment related side effects.