Objective To investigate the relationship between the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) gene and early virologic response of interferon-α (IFN-α) in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Methods A total of 135 CHB patients were prospectively enrolled in this study. SNP of PD-1.1 and PD-1.2 genes were examined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) in these patients.Then its relationship with early virologic response to IFN-α treatment was analyzed. The data were analyzed by x2 test. Results Among the 135 patients, 33 (24.4%) achieved early virologic response to IFN-α. There were 35, 77, and 23 patients with AA, AG, GG genotgpe of PD-1.1. The early virologic response was achived in 5(14.3%), 25(32.5%) and 3(13.0%) among patients with AA,AG, GG genotypes of PD-1.1, respectively. There were statistically different (x2 = 6. 258, P =0. 044). The subjects with AG genotype showed higher response rate than those with AA or GG genotypes (x2 = 6. 246, P= 0. 012). However, the early virologic response rates were not significant different among subjects with AA, AG or GG genotype of PD-1. 2 ( x2= 3.957, P= 0. 138).Conclusion SNP of PD-1.1 gene may be used as a marker to predict the early virologic response to IFN-α treatment in Chinese CHB patients.