Prevalence of HLA-B*5701 and Its Relationship with Abacavir Hypersensitivity Reaction in Iranian HIV-Infected Patients

Shadi Baniasadi; Shokoufeh Baradaran Shokouhi; Payam Tabarsi; Maryam Alehashem; Hossein Khalili; Fanak Fahimi; Seyed Alireza Nadji

Prevalence of HLA-B*5701 and Its Relationship with Abacavir Hypersensitivity Reaction in Iranian HIV-Infected Patients

Tanaffos. 2016;15(1):48-52.

Authors

Shadi Baniasadi¹, Shokoufeh Baradaran Shokouhi², Payam Tabarsi³, Maryam Alehashem¹, Hossein Khalili⁴, Fanak Fahimi⁵, Seyed Alireza Nadji²

Affiliations

¹ Tracheal Diseases Research Center, National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases (NRITLD), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
² Virology Research Center, NRITLD, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
³ Clinical Tuberculosis and Epidemiology Research Center, NRITLD, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
⁴ Clinical Pharmacy Department, School of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
⁵ Chronic Respiratory Diseases Research Center, NRITLD, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

PMID: 27403179
PMCID: PMC4937762

Abstract

Background: Hypersensitivity reaction (HSR) is a major adverse effect of abacavir (ABC), which occurs in 5-8% of Caucasians. The relationship between Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) and ABC HSR has been reported in various populations. It has been proposed to administer ABC only to HLA-B*5701 negative patients to avoid this reaction. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of HLA-B*5701 in Iranian HIV positive patients. We also sought to find the relationship between this allele with ABC HSR in patients who received the medication.

Materials and methods: We screened patients for HLA-B*5701 allele using SybrGreen real time PCR-melting method on blood samples from HIV positive patients who were referred to our hospital. The quality of the extracted genome was evaluated by B-globin housekeeping gene as internal control prior to HLA-B*5701 allele screening.

Results: Of 198 HIV-infected patients, 6 (3.0%) had the HLA-B*5701 allele (95% CI, 1%-5%). Among the 28 patients who were given ABC, one individual had the HLA-B*5701 allele and experienced ABC HSR.

Conclusion: Prevalence of HLA-B*5701 in Iranian patients was lower than that in Caucasians but was comparable with that of other Middle Eastern populations. Screening for HLA-B*5701 before ABC administration as part of antiretroviral therapy may reduce the risk of HSR.

Keywords: Abacavir; Antiretroviral therapy; HIV; HLA-B*5701 allele; Hypersensitivity reaction; Iran.