HLA-DR Antigens in HBsAg-Positive Chronic Active Liver Disease with and without Associated Delta Infection

✍ Scribed by Barbara Forzani; Giovanni C. Actis; Giorgio Verme; Antonio Amoroso; Iolanda Borelli; Emilio S. Curtoni; Maria Grazia Rumi; Antonio Picciotto; Giovanni Marinucci; Maria Antonietta Freni; Mario Rizzetto

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1984
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 415 KB
• Volume: 4
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0270-9139
• DOI: 10.1002/hep.1840040602

✦ Synopsis

The A, B, C and DR locus specificities of the human leukocyte antigens system (HLA) were determined in 4 5 delta-positive and 44 delta-negative Italian patients, all with HBsAg-positive chronic active liver disease; controls were 526 healthy Italian blood donors matched for age, sex and geographical origin. HLA-A, B, C gene frequencies were not significantly changed. In deltapositive patients, the frequencies of the DR locus specificities were: DR2,37.8%; DR3,20%; DR4, 11.1%. In the delta-negative patients, the frequencies were: DR2, 13.6%; DR3, 36.4%; DR4, 0%. Control frequencies were: DR2, 19.4%; DR3, 17.1%; DR4, 18.5%. The corrected p values of the differences between controls and delta-positive patients were: DR2, pc = 0.046; DR3, pc = NS (not significant); DR4, pc = NS. The corrected p values of the differences between controls and deltanegative patients were: DR2, pc = NS; DR3, pe = 0.03; DR4, pc = 0.002. These findings show that:

(a) DR3, a genetic marker of autoimmunity, might assist the establishment of chronic HBsAg liver disease in the absence of delta superinfection; (b) DR2 is linked with failure to clear the delta agent, and ( c ) DR4 may protect from virus B persistence. Identification of adventitious factors such as delta may help uncover a subgroup of HBsAg carriers who are genetically predisposed to develop chronic liver disease.