title: HLA-B*15:02 is associated with anemia in patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with pegylated interferon-α and ribavirin.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Buddhist Dalin Tzu Chi General Hospital, Chia-Yi, Taiwan.
authors.forename: C-W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Tseng
authors.forename: Y-H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.forename: C-K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: N-S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: T-H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Hung
authors.forename: S-F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: K-C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Tseng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000740:Anemia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D059910:HLA-B15 Antigen / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006650:Histocompatibility Testing; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; C483536:HLA-B*15:02 antigen; D059910:HLA-B15 Antigen; D006454:Hemoglobins; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a