The importance of A3 allele in response to hepatitis B vaccine in end-stage renal disease patients.
BACKGROUND
Hemodialysis (HD) patients are at high risk for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection due to intravenous interventions and therapies: Our aim was to examine how genetic factors affect the response to HBV vaccination in HD patients.


METHODS
The frequencies of HLA class I and II alleles were investigated in responders and nonresponders. Response to vaccination was defined as anti-HBsAg > 10 SI U/L (group I). Nonresponders (anti-HBsAg < 10 SI U/L) were defined as group II. The study included HD patients who were negative for antibodies to hepatitis B surface antigen during pretransplantation evaluation.


RESULTS
Group I consisting of 166 patients and group II, of 90 patients showed a significantly higher frequency of the HLA A3 allele in group I (n = 20) than group II (n = 3) (P = .02). There were no statistical differences between the two groups regarding age and gender distribution (P > .05). Graft outcome was not different between responders and nonresponders (P > .05).


CONCLUSIONS
This preliminary study shows that HLA alleles may have immunomodulatory effects in end-stage renal failure patients. The response to hepatitis B vaccination is affected in multifactorially fashion; HLA A3 may be a genetic predictor for responders, but further studies in larger series are required.
Ozdemir
F N
FN
Department of Nephrology, Baskent University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
Micozkadioglu
H
H
Arat
Z
Z
Turan
M
M
Gulmus
S
S
Haberal
M
M
D000483:Alleles; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D015791:HLA-A3 Antigen / Q000235:genetics*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic
D015791:HLA-A3 Antigen; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic