Asparaginase is an important drug to treat childhood haematological malignancies. Data on the association between human leukocyte antigens (HLA) and asparaginase hypersensitivity among Chinese are lacking. We conducted a retrospective study to identify HLA alleles associated with asparaginase hypersensitivity among Chinese children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), mixed phenotype leukaemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), who received asparaginases with HLA typing performed between 2009 and 2019. 107 Chinese patients were analysed. 66.3% (71/107) developed hypersensitivity to at least one of the asparaginases. HLA-B*46:01 (OR 3.8, 95% CI 1.4-10.1, p < 0.01) and DRB1*09:01 (OR 4.3, 95% CI 1.6-11.4, p < 0.01) were significantly associated with L-asparaginase hypersensitivities, which remained significant after adjustment for age, gender and B cell ALL [HLA-B*46:01 (adjusted OR 3.5, 95% 1.3-10.5, p = 0.02) and DRB1*09:01 (OR 4.4, 95% CI 1.6-13.3, p < 0.01)].
Keywords: Allergy; Asparaginase; Children; Chinese; Human leukocyte antigens; Hypersensitivity.
© 2021. The Author(s).