In addition, Hayashi et al. found that, although there was no significant gender difference in the overall response to IFN-α monotherapy, being a younger woman (<40 years) was a favorable marker for successful treatment [49], findings substantiated by subsequent data associating menopause with a significant decrease in treatment response and acceleration of liver fibrosis, when compared to women of reproductive age and, thus, higher estrogen levels [45, 47]. The gene discussed is IFNA1; the disease is Hepatic fibrosis.