The infection / clearance and antiviral therapy of hepatitis B virus( HBV) are affected by various factors,such as the host,virus,and environment. Recent studies have proven that interleukin 28B( IL- 28B) polymorphisms are highly associated with the clearance and antiviral therapy of hepatitis C virus. Since then,great attention has been paid to the role of IL- 28 B genetic variations in chronic hepatitis B( CHB),with a research focus on the loci rs12979860,rs12980275,and rs8099917. This paper reviews the role of IL- 28 B polymorphisms in the infection / clearance of HBV and interferon therapy of CHB. Despite the conflicting findings,IL- 28 B polymorphisms are considered to have a potential clinical value in the field of CHB.