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Updated: Sep 22, 2026

Detection of Low Copy Number Integrated Viral DNA Formed by In Vitro Hepatitis B Infection
Published on: November 7, 2018
HLA typing in chronic type B, D and C hepatitis
C Zavaglia1, C Bortolon, G Ferrioli
1Department of Internal Medicine, Niguarda Hospital, Milan, Italy.
Aims:
We aimed to test the hypothesis that susceptibility to chronic HBV, HDV and HCV infections or their pathology is influenced by host genetic factors.
Methods:
The Human Leukocyte Antigens (HLA) (A, B, DR and DQ) were determined by microlymphocytotoxicity assay in patients with chronic C (n = 117), B (n = 97) or D (n = 27) hepatitis and their frequencies were compared with those of 489 healthy controls.
Results:
No statistically significant association was found between any HLA antigen and chronic B or D hepatitis. A significantly higher frequency of HLA-B14 was observed in patients with chronic persistent or active C hepatitis (16.7% of 90 versus 5.9% of 489, chi(2) = 10.9, pc < 0.05, Relative Risk = 3.17, Etiological Fraction = 0.11). The frequency of HLA-DR5 was lower in HCV positive patients (24.8%) than in controls (45%, chi(2) = 15.1, pc < 0.005, RR = 0.4, EF = -0.37).
Conclusions:
No correlation could be observed between clearance of HBV or HDV and HLA phenotype. Immunogenetic factors may have a role in determining susceptibility to chronic HCV hepatitis, and in Italian patients HLA-DR5 is a protective factor.
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