LightCycler-analysis of the Transforming Growth Factor-beta1 Codon 25 Gene Polymorphism in German Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C Infection

In epidemiological studies of chronic HCV infection, duration of the disease, age, alcohol intake, and male gender are independent risk factors related to histological severity of hepatic fibrosis/cirrhosis. However, not all patients exposed to HCV develop the same degree of liver fibrosis. During the last few years, numerous association and genetic susceptibility studies of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines have investigated the role of gene polymorphisms in the progression of liver fibrosis in studies evaluating growths factors for their possible role in the progression of liver fibrosis. The polymorphism a…