HLA-B Alleles with Shared Peptide Binding Specificities Define Global Risk of Cotrimoxazole-induced SCAR

Co-trimoxazole is a leading global cause of severe cutaneous adverse drug reactions (SCAR) including Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis (SJS/TEN) and drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS). Co-trimoxazole-induced SCAR are associated with HLA class I alleles including HLA-B*13:01 and HLA-B*38:02 in Southeast Asian (SEA) populations. However, the global generalizability of these associations is unknown but critical for population-appropriate risk stratification and diagnosis.

To determine HLA risk factors associated with co-trimoxazole-induced SJS/TEN and DRESS in populations from the United States (US) and South Africa (SA).

We performed high-resolution HLA typing on dermatologist-adjudicated co-trimoxazole-induced SCAR patients in the US (n=63) and SA (n=26) compared to population controls. Peptide binding and docking analyses were performed using MHCcluster2.0 and CB-Dock2.

In a multiple logistic regression model, HLA-B*44:03 (Pc<0.001, OR: 4.08), HLA-B*38:01 (Pc<0.001, OR: 5.66), and HLA-C*04:01 (Pc=0.003, OR: 2.50) were independently associated with co-trimoxazole-induced SJS/TEN in the US. HLA-B*44:03 was also associated with co-trimoxazole-induced DRESS in SA (Pc=0.019, OR: 10.69). Distinct HLA-B variants with shared peptide binding specificities (SPBS) and HLA-C*04:01 identified 94% and 78% of co-trimoxazole-induced SJS/TEN and DRESS in the US, respectively. The SEA risk allele HLA-B*13:01, with SPBS to HLA-B*44:03, was identified in just 1/63 US SCAR patients.

HLA alleles with SPBS to SEA-related risk alleles including HLA-B*44:03 (SPBS with HLA-B*13:01) and HLA-B*38:01 (SPBS with HLA-B*38:02) but also HLA-C*04:01 predisposed to co-trimoxazole-induced SCAR in the US and SA. These findings provide biological plausibility and strategies for global risk prediction and diagnosis of co-trimoxazole-induced SCAR.