The two proposed functional variants (rs368234815 and rs4803217) were not superior to the discovery SNP rs12979860 with respect to liver inflammation or fibrosis phenotype.
In the overall analysis, the IL-28B rs12979860 T/C polymorphism was identified as a genetic risk factor for hepatitis virus-related HCC and LC development.
The IL28B rs12979860 CC genotype is associated with a higher prevalence of cirrhosis in HIV-HCV-coinfected patients than CT/TT genotypes, suggesting that IL28B CC carriers may experience a more rapid progression of HCV-related liver fibrosis, perhaps as result of increased liver inflammation.