haplotype analysis of hemochromatosis gene polymorphisms in chronic hepatitis c virus infection: a case control study

conclusions polymorphism in the hemochromatosis gene may confer some degree of risk for hcv infection, and individuals carrying the h and c alleles may be susceptible to this disease; however, a larger sample of hcv patients and healthy individuals may be necessary to further illustrate the role of these polymorphisms in hcv. patients and methods hfe gene polymorphisms were examined in a total of 69 hcv patients and 69 healthy controls using polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism techniques. haplotype and diplotype analyses were performed using phase software. results in a recessive analysis model of the his63asp (h63d) locus (hh vs. hd + dd), the hh genotype was more common in patients compared to controls (adjusted p = 0.012; or = 6.42 [95% ci: 1.51 - 27.33]). also, in a recessive analysis model of the cys282tyr (c282y) locus (cc vs. cy + yy), the cc genotype was more frequent in patients compared to controls (adjusted p = 0.03; or = 5.06 [95% ci: 1.13 - 22.06]). in addition, there was a significant association between the hc haplotype and the hcdc diplotype and hcv infection. background chronic hepatitis c virus (hcv) infection is frequently associated with elevated serum iron markers. polymorphisms in the hemochromatosis (hfe) genes are responsible for iron accumulation in most cases of hemochromatosis, and may play a role in hcv infection. objectives we aimed to assess the prevalence of hfe gene polymorphisms in a group of iranian hcv-infected patients, and to explore the association of these polymorphisms with hcv infection.