The recommended treatment for patients with chronic hepatitis C, pegylated interferon-alpha (PEG-IFN-alpha) plus ribavirin (RBV), does not provide sustained virologic response (SVR) in all patients. We report a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to null virological response (NVR) in the treatment of patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 within a Japanese population. We found two SNPs near the gene IL28B on chromosome 19 to be strongly associated with NVR (rs12980275, P = 1.93 x 10(-13), and rs8099917, 3.11 x 10(-15)). We replicated these associations in an independent cohort (combined P values, 2.84 x 10(-27) (OR = 17.7; 95% CI = 10.0-31.3) and 2.68 x 10(-32) (OR = 27.1; 95% CI = 14.6-50.3), respectively). Compared to NVR, these SNPs were also associated with SVR (rs12980275, P = 3.99 x 10(-24), and rs8099917, P = 1.11 x 10(-27)). In further fine mapping of the region, seven SNPs (rs8105790, rs11881222, rs8103142, rs28416813, rs4803219, rs8099917 and rs7248668) located in the IL28B region showed the most significant associations (P = 5.52 x 10(-28)-2.68 x 10(-32); OR = 22.3-27.1). Real-time quantitative PCR assays in peripheral blood mononuclear cells showed lower IL28B expression levels in individuals carrying the minor alleles (P = 0.015).

Interferon therapy significantly reducesthe risk for hepatocellular carcinoma, especially among virologic or biochemical responders.

Sarcopenia is defined by muscle loss and muscle dysfunction. Sarcopenia is classified into primary and secondary types, based on the cause. Primary sarcopenia is mainly aging-related sarcopenia, whereas secondary sarcopenia is the reduced muscle mass and strength that accompanies an underlying disease. Given the essential role of the liver in metabolism, secondary sarcopenia due to nutritional disorders or other factors can frequently occur in liver disease. In 2015, the Japan Society of Hepatology (JSH) decided to establish its own assessment criteria for sarcopenia in liver disease because the number of liver disease patients with sarcopenia is expected to increase and there is cumulative evidence to indicate sarcopenic patients have poor clinical outcomes. A working group to create assessment criteria for sarcopenia has thus been established by the JSH. In this article, we summarize the current knowledge with regard to sarcopenia and present the assessment criteria for sarcopenia in liver disease proposed by the JSH (1st edition). To the best of our knowledge, this is globally the first proposed assessment criteria for sarcopenia specializing in liver disease.

Although the time between biopsies partly affected the patient's clinical course, the differences observed here suggest that in patients with chronic hepatitis C, regression of fibrosis is associated with sustained virologic response to interferon therapy.