2017-03-212017-03-212015-09SANTOS, Kemper Nunes dos et al. Analysis of polymorphisms in the interleukin 18 gene promotor (-137 g/c and -607 c/a) in patients infected with hepatitis c virus from the brazilian amazon. Arquivos de Gastroenterologia, São Paulo, v. 52, n. 3, p. 222-227, jul./set. 2015. Disponível em: <http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0004-28032015000300222&lng=pt&nrm=iso>. Acesso em: 21 mar. 2017. <http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0004-28032015000300013>.1678-4219https://repositorio.ufpa.br/handle/2011/7947Background - The hepatitis C virus has been recognized as the leading cause of chronic liver disease in the world. Host genetic factors have been implicated in the persistence of hepatitis C virus infection. Single nucleotide polymorphisms at positions -607 C/A (rs1946518) and -137 G/C (rs187238) in the IL-18 gene promoter have been suggested to be associated with delayed hepatitis C virus clearance and persistence of the disease. Objective - Identify these polymorphisms in a population infected with hepatitis C virus from the Brazilian Amazon region. Methods - In a cross-sectional analytical study conducted in Belém, Pará, Brazil, 304 patients infected with hepatitis C virus were divided into two groups: group A, patients with persistent infection; group B, patients with spontaneous clearance. The control group consisted of 376 volunteers not infected with hepatitis C virus. Samples were analyzed by RT-PCR for the detection of viral RNA and by RFLP-PCR to evaluate the presence of the -137 G/C and -607 C/A IL-18 gene promoter polymorphisms. Results - Comparison of polymorphism allele frequencies between the patient and control groups showed a higher frequency of allele C at position -607 among patients (P=0.02). When the association between the polymorphisms and viral infection was analyzed, patients carrying genotype C/A at position -607 were found to be at higher risk of persistent hepatitis C virus infection (P=0.03). Conclusion - the present results suggest a possible role of the -607 IL-18 gene promoter polymorphism in the pathogenesis of hepatitis C virus infection.Acesso AbertoAmazônia brasileiraHepatite CPolimofismoAnálise estruturalCitocinasMedicina tropicalAnálise histopatológicaArtigo de Periódico