ASSOCIATION BETWEEN MHC CLASS-II ALLELES AND CLEARANCE OF CIRCULATINGHEPATITIS-C VIRUS

The frequencies of HLA class I antigens and class II haplotypes were c ompared in subjects with previous (polymerase chain reaction [PCR]-neg ative) or with persistent (PCR-positive) hepatitis C virus (HCV) infec tion and in HCV patients with mild versus severe histologic activity s cores on liver biopsy. The DRB111 allele group was found in 11 (31.4% ) of 35 subjects with previous infection and in 11 (8.2%) of 135 subje cts with persistent infection (P <.001). The DQB10301 allele was foun d in 18 (51.4%) of 35 subjects with previous infection and in 33 (24.4 %) of 135 patients with persistent infection (P <.002), Both observati ons remained significant after correction for multiple testing. No sig nificant association was shown between severity of disease and any HLA class I or II type. Thus, the HLA class II alleles DRB111 and DQB1*0 301 are associated with clearance of circulating HCV.