HLA-B18 as a risk factor of short-term progression to severe liver fibrosis in HIV/HCV co-infected patients with absent or minimal fibrosis: implications for timing of therapy

Pharmacogenomics J. 2017 Dec;17(6):551-555. doi: 10.1038/tpj.2016.42. Epub 2016 May 31.

Abstract

Our aim was to analyze the influence of HLA-B haplotypes on liver fibrosis progression in HIV/hepatitis C virus (HCV) co-infected patients. Retrospective longitudinal study including HIV/HCV, non-cirrhotic and HCV treatment-naïve patients. The main outcome variable was liver fibrosis progression of at least one stage. One hundred and four patients constituted the study population (F0-F1: 62 (59.6%); F2: 22 (21.2%); F3: 20 (19.2%)). During a median follow-up of 54.5 months (IQR: 26.2-77), 45 patients (43.3%) showed an increase in the stage of liver fibrosis (time to event: 29 (IQR: 14-49.5) months). HLA-B18pos patients more frequently had a higher and faster fibrosis progression rate (73.3%; 24 (IQR: 8-29) months) than HLA-B18neg patients (38.2%; 34.5 (IQR: 14.7-51.2) months). This association was also observed in the development of F3-F4 fibrosis among F0-F2 patients (HLA-B18pos: 69.2%; 18 (6.5-37) months vs HLA-B18neg: 28.2%; 37 (IQR: 19-52) months). These results could impact the timing of HCV therapy in F0-F2 patients.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Coinfection
  • Disease Progression
  • Female
  • Genotype
  • HIV Infections / complications
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy*
  • HIV Infections / genetics
  • HIV Infections / virology
  • HLA-B18 Antigen / genetics*
  • Hepatitis C / complications
  • Hepatitis C / drug therapy*
  • Hepatitis C / genetics
  • Hepatitis C / virology
  • Humans
  • Liver Cirrhosis / etiology
  • Liver Cirrhosis / genetics
  • Liver Cirrhosis / immunology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Survival Analysis
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Failure
  • Viral Load

Substances

  • HLA-B18 Antigen