[HLA-B*5701 and hypersensitivity reactions to abacavir. Study methods and clinical relevance]

Hypersensitivity reactions to abacavir occur in 5-8% of patients starting treatment with this drug and limits future treatment. Some host genetic factors, especially the HLA-B*5701 allele, have been identified as risk factors for hypersensitivity reaction in Caucasians. Consequently, the possibility of routine implementation of a genetic test to rule out the presence of this allele has been proposed to achieve a personalized therapeutic profile. The present article discusses all the information related to hypersensitivity to abacavir and its genetic and immunological markers, as well as the distinct techniques for HLA-B*5701 allele detection. The various studies performed to date in distinct population are also discussed.