Introduction:

Hepatitis B virus (HepB) infection is a global health problem with increasing cause of morbidity and mortality.Hemodialysis patients are especially vulnerable to HepB infection due to uremia-related immune dysfunction, frequent interventions they exposed, and health-care personnel’s unsafe care. The vaccination against HepB confers the primary preventive measure. However, unresponsiveness to vaccination constitutes a major problem. Several factors can influence the immune response to vaccines but human genetic variations are thought to strongly militate the variability in vaccine responsiveness. We aimed to determine the association with specific HLA alleles and response to HepB vaccination in hemodialysis patients. Methods: The study included in-center hemodialysis patients. We retrospectively collected data regarding demographic, clinical, and laboratory features including anti-HBs antibody, antibody to hepatitis C (anti-HCV), anti-HIV, and specific HLA class I and II alleles (HLA-A, HLB, HLA-DR) from electronical medical record system. The frequencies of HLA class I and II antigens in nonresponders and responders were analyzed. Results: The most commonly observed HLA alleles in patients were DQA1*01 (%73.7), DQA1*05 (%57.9), DQB1*03 (%53.8), DQB1*05 (%38.5), and DRB1*11 (%37.3), respectively. The frequency of HLA-B40 allel was significantly higher in nonresponders (p=0.02, OR=6.25, 95%CI =1.33-29.3). HLA-DQA1*01 and HLA-DQB1*05 alleles were observed significantly more in responders (p=0.019, OR =6.9, 95% CI=1.40-33.91, andp=0.028, OR =10, 95% CI=1.12-88.91, respectively). Conclusion: This is the first study to our knowledge demonstratingthe association between antibody response to HBsAg and HLA-B40, HLA-DQA1*01, and HLA-DQB1*05 alleles in Turkish hemodialysis patients.

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