PNPLA3 rs738409 polymorphism is associated with liver fibrosis progression in patients with chronic hepatitis C: A repeated measures study

Abstract

Background: Host genetic background has been associated with liver fibrosis progression. Objective: To analyze the association between the patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing 3 (PNPLA3) rs738409 polymorphism and liver fibrosis progression in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients. Study design: In this retrospective cohort study, 187 patients with chronic HCV infection were included, who had at least two liver stiffness measurements (LSM) by transient elastography during the follow-up. Results were expressed in kilopascals (kPa). The analysis of genetic association was carried out according to additive model by using Generalized Linear Models. Results: No patients had advanced fibrosis/cirrhosis at baseline. During a median follow-up time of 47.9 months, 15 patients developed advanced fibrosis and 17 cirrhosis. In multivariate analysis adjusted by the main clinical and epidemiological covariates, the rs738409 G allele was related to higher increase of LSM values during the follow-up (adjusted arithmetic mean ratio (aAMR) = 1.16 (95%CI = 1.04; 1.29); p = .006) and higher odds of having progression to advanced fibrosis [aOR = 2.03 (95%CI = 1.01; 4.06); p = .045], and progression to cirrhosis [aOR = 3.03 (95%CI = 1.26; 7.30); p = .014]. Conclusions: PNPLA3 rs738409 polymorphism appears to be related to the increased progression of liver fibrosis in HCV infected patients.