Prognostic effect of human leukocyte antigen class I and II alleles on chronic hepatitis C patients treated by pegylated interferon-alfa plus ribavirin in Taiwan.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the influence of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I and II alleles on the response in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients receiving combination therapy with pegylated interferon-alfa and ribavirin.


METHODS
One hundred and six CHC patients who accomplished combination treatment were enrolled. Sixty-seven patients achieved sustained virologic response (SVR). HLA-A, -B, -C, -DR, and -DQ loci were determined by sequence-based genotyping. The effects of virologic variables and HLA alleles on SVR were evaluated by logistic regressions.


RESULTS
Univariate analyses showed that SVR was significantly associated with low pre-treatment HCV RNA levels, HCV genotype non-1, high pre-treatment ALT levels, a significant decline of ALT levels from baseline to week 4, and the low body mass index. Among HLA class I and II alleles, the occurrence of SVR was significantly associated with lack of HLA-B60 and existence of HLA-A33 in univariate analyses (OR, 0.33; 95% CI, 0.14-0.77; p = 0.01; OR, 2.16; 95% CI, 0.86-5.45; p = 0.30 with a trend, respectively). Multivariate analyses revealed that HLA-A33 significantly favored SVR after adjusted for potential confounders (OR, 7.86; 95% CI, 1.43-43.30; p value after Holm's procedure = 0.03).


CONCLUSIONS
HLA-A33 is associated with the achievement of SVR in Taiwanese CHC patients receiving combination therapy with pegylated interferon-alfa plus ribavirin.
Tseng
Kuo-Chih
KC
Department of Internal Medicine, Buddhist Dalin Tzu Chi General Hospital, Chia-Yi, Taiwan.
Chang
Chin-Kuo
CK
Chou
An-Liang
AL
Hsieh
Yu-Hsi
YH
Tseng
Chang-An
CA
Lai
Ning-Sheng
NS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000483:Alleles; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005805:Genes, MHC Class I; D005802:Genes, MHC Class II; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011379:Prognosis; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b