HLA-B*15:02 is associated with anemia in patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with pegylated interferon-α and ribavirin

Tissue Antigens. 2012 Nov;80(5):424-30. doi: 10.1111/j.1399-0039.2012.01956.x. Epub 2012 Aug 30.

Abstract

To investigate the relationship between human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I and II alleles and treatment-induced anemia in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients receiving combination therapy with pegylated interferon-α (PEG-IFN-α) and ribavirin (RBV). One hundred six naïve CHC patients (59 females and 47 males; mean age, 53.08 years) who underwent combination treatment were enrolled. The patients were considered positive for hemoglobin (Hb)-related side effects if the Hb concentrations dropped below 10 g/dl during PEG-IFN-α plus RBV treatment. The HLA-A, -B, -C, -DR, and -DQ loci were investigated by sequence-based genotyping. The effects of the clinical characteristics, virologic variables, and the HLA alleles on treatment-induced anemia were evaluated by a logistic regression analysis. Forty patients (37.7%) had Hb levels below 10 g/dl during the treatment course. Low baseline Hb levels and an advanced liver fibrosis stage were associated with decreases in Hb levels to below 10 g/dl. The occurrence of treatment-related anemia (Hb < 10 g/dl) was significantly associated with HLA-B*15:02 as shown by multivariate analysis (adjusted odds ratio, 8.13; 95% confidence interval: 1.19-55.70; P-value after Holm's procedure, 0.03). HLA-B*15:02 is associated with treatment-induced anemia in Taiwanese CHC patients receiving combination therapy with PEG-IFN-α plus RBV.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Anemia / chemically induced
  • Anemia / genetics*
  • Anemia / immunology
  • Anemia / virology
  • Antiviral Agents / administration & dosage
  • Antiviral Agents / adverse effects*
  • Drug Therapy, Combination / adverse effects
  • Female
  • Genotype
  • HLA-B15 Antigen / genetics*
  • HLA-B15 Antigen / immunology
  • Hemoglobins / analysis
  • Hepacivirus / drug effects
  • Hepacivirus / physiology
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / complications
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / genetics*
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / immunology
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / virology
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / genetics
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / immunology
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / genetics
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / immunology
  • Histocompatibility Testing
  • Humans
  • Interferon-alpha / administration & dosage
  • Interferon-alpha / adverse effects*
  • Liver Cirrhosis / etiology
  • Liver Cirrhosis / genetics*
  • Liver Cirrhosis / immunology
  • Liver Cirrhosis / virology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Polyethylene Glycols / administration & dosage
  • Polyethylene Glycols / adverse effects*
  • Recombinant Proteins / administration & dosage
  • Recombinant Proteins / adverse effects
  • Ribavirin / administration & dosage
  • Ribavirin / adverse effects*
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • HLA-B*15:02 antigen
  • HLA-B15 Antigen
  • Hemoglobins
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II
  • Interferon-alpha
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Ribavirin
  • peginterferon alfa-2a