[Clinical outcomes of lamivudine therapy and HLA alleles in chronic hepatitis B patients].
OBJECTIVE
The human leukocyte antigen (HLA) system is an integral component of immune response. Highly polymorphic HLA genes may play a pivotal role in the response of antiviral therapy. We investigated the effects of HLA gene polymorphism on the clinical outcome of chronic hepatitis B patients who received lamivudine treatment.


METHODS
Depending on their clinical response to lamivudine therapy, a total of sixty one patients were divided into following groups; non-responders, viral breakthroughers, relapsers, and seroconverters. HLA-A, -B, -Cw, -DRB and HLA-DRB1 alleles typing was performed on each group through the polymerase chain reaction and the sequence-specific oligonucleotide hybridization method. The distribution patterns of HLA-A, HLA-B, HLA-Cw, HLA-DRB, and HLA-DRB1 were then analysed.


RESULTS
When non-responders were compared to the other groups, high frequencies in HLA-Cw1, HLA-DRB14 and HLA-DRB4 (p=0.015, 0.033 and 0.004 respectively) were evident. When seroconverters were compared to viral breakthroughers, high frequencies in HLA-A2 and HLA-DRB4 (p=0.048, 0.025 respectively) were evident.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggests that HLA-A2, HLA-Cw1, HLA-DRB14 genes are related to the clinical outcomes of lamivudine treatment in chronic hepatitis B patients. These genes may be used in the prediction of the clinical outcome of lamivudine therapy in chronic hepatitis B patients.
Oh
Ji Min
JM
Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
Kwon
Kyu Heum
KH
Kim
Jang Eon
JE
Choi
Jin Ho
JH
Beom
Sun Hee
SH
Lee
Sang Hyuk
SH
Lee
Yong Jik
YJ
Park
Mi Young
MY
Jung
Mee Kyung
MK
Lee
Kye Heui
KH
D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D024882:Drug Resistance, Viral; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000187:drug effects; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D019259:Lamivudine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D006680:HLA Antigens; D019259:Lamivudine