HLA genotypes and serum levels of hepatitis C virus RNA in Japanese patients on maintenance hemodialysis

Abstract

Background. The prevalence of anti-hepatitis type C virus (HCV) antibodies in patients on maintenance hemodialy-sis (HD) is high, ranging from 5% to more than 50%. Although blood transfusion and/or impaired cellular immunity may contribute to HCV infection, the exact mechanisms remain undetermined. Here, we assess the role of HLA genotypes in chronic HCV infection in Japanese HD patients. Methods. Genotyping for HLA-A, B, and DRB1 was performed in 113 patients. All patients had anti-HCV antibodies in serum, and endstage renal disease treated by HD. Patients were divided into two groups – those with a low amount of HCV-RNA in their sera (group L; HCV-RNA <50 KIU/ml; n = 50) and those with a high amount (group H; HCV-RNA ≧50 KIU/ml; n = 63). Another group, of 264 Japanese patients on maintenance HD without HBV or HCV infection, served as disease controls. Results. The proportions of group L patients with HLA-B*07, B*46, and DRB1*01 alleles and that of group H patients with HLA-B*52 were significantly higher than those in the controls. On the other hand, the proportion of group H patients with HLA-DRB1*04 was significantly lower than that in the controls. Conclusions. Our data suggest that HLA-B*07, B*46, and DRB1*01 may be associated with the immunological elimination of HCV in Japanese patients on HD.