title: Association between HLA-DRB1* polymorphisms and hepatitis B infection in a brazilian population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to determine the genotype association for alleles of class II human leukocyte antigens (HLA) in the DRB1* locus among blood donors at the Fundação Hemope (Brazil) infected by or immunized for the hepatitis B virus (HBV).
  
  
  METHODS
  A case-control study was performed, comprising a group of individuals infected by HBV and a control group of immunized individuals at a proportion of 1:4. Blood samples were taken for the HLA typing of the DRB1* locus. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed for the assessment of associations between the categorical variables using the chi-squared test and Fisher's exact test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 320 blood donors were analyzed (241 males [75%] and 79 females [25%] with a mean age of 39 years). The case group consisted of 64 HBV-infected donors and the control group was composed of 256 HBV-immunized donors. The multivariate analysis stratified by gender revealed that the DRB1*09 allele was associated with infected male donors (p = 0.016) and the DRB1*08 allele was associated with infected donors aged 39 years or younger (p = 0.031).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the present study reveal that younger blood donors and male blood donors who respectively exhibit the DRB1*08 and DRB1*09 alleles are more susceptible to intensification of HBV infection.
authors.affiliation: Fundação de Hematologia e Hemoterapia de Pernambuco, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil. brunomelocorrea@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Bruno de Melo
authors.initials: Bde M
authors.lastname: Corrêa
authors.forename: Edmundo Pessoa de Almeida
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.forename: Maria de Fátima Pessoa Militão de
authors.initials: Mde F
authors.lastname: Albuquerque
authors.forename: Lúcia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dourado
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens