Alteration of the influences of HLA classes I and II alleles on the perinatal hepatitis B virus infection after immunoprophylaxis in Korean children

Some HLA alleles are known to be associated with hepatitis B virus (HBV) persistence. In order to find out the relationship between HLA and perinatal HBV infection after prophylaxis, we typed HLA classes I and II in 38 HBeAg-positive mothers, their children (19 succeeded and 19 failed in prophylaxis) and 198 HBsAg-negative healthy controls. HLA-B35 (RR = 2.8, p < 0.03), Cw*07 (RR = 2.7, p < 0.02), DRB1*07 (RR = 3.6, p < 0.006), DQA1*02 (RR = 3.6, p < 0.02) and DQB1*02 (RR = 2.4, p < 0.05) alleles were higher and DRB1*13 (RR = 0.3, p < 0.03) and DPB1*0401 (RR = 0.1, p < 0.01) alleles were lower frequencies in HBeAg-positive mothers than in the control. In failed children to the perinatal HBV prophylaxis, HLA-Cw*0303 allele was significantly higher (p < 0.05) and DPB1*0202 allele was lower (p < 0.03) than in succeeded children. These results suggest the influences of certain HLA alleles on naturally acquired chronic HBV infection may be changed by perinatal HBV prophylaxis.