HLA DRB1 alleles in HCV RNA positive patients with and without anti-HCV antibodies: relationship with the outcome of infection

Abstract


In some individuals infected with HCV, the anti-HCV is not detectable and HCV RNA is the only marker of the infection. Since the formation of certain antibodies is MHC restricted, we evaluated whether there are differences in the HLA DRB1 allele frequency between anti-HCV negative and positive hepatitis patients, and whether the DRB1 frequency differs between patients with self-limited and chronic infection. Material: 167 HCVRNA positive (37 anti-HCV negative to end of follow-up) patients, including 42 with acute hepatitis and 125 chronic hepatitis patients; control group of 286 healthy individuals. After the follow-up for at least 30 months the patients were divided into 2 groups: those with self-limited and those with chronic hepatitis. Other reasons of hepatitis and obvious immune defects were excluded. Methods: HCV RNA by RT PCR; anti-HCV by the third generation EIA; DRB1 by INNOLiPA DRB1. Results: We found no difference in the frequency of DRB1 alleles between the healthy individuals and HCV infected patients nor between the anti-HCV negative and positive patients. However, the frequency of DRB1*15 and DRB1*11 observed in the patients with self-limited infection was significantly higher than that in the patients with chronic infection. This difference was independent of anti-HCV delectability.