HLA Prevalence

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  HLA Prevalence: The Prevalence of different HLA types in people living with HIV and/or Hepatitis B

• IRAS ID

  315434

• Contact name

  Julie Fox

• Contact email

  julie.fox@gstt.nhs.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  Guy's & St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

• Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier

  N/A, N/A

• Duration of Study in the UK

  0 years, 11 months, 31 days

• Research summary

  Research Summary

  HLA typing is a test that looks closely at certain parts of the immune system. It is used to find out if someone would be a good donor match for a person who needs a transplant. More recently, it has been used to guide the use of new immune therapies in people living with HIV, cancer and other illnesses.
  Through this study, investigators would like to understand the rates of different HLA types in people living with HIV. This will help us plan for future studies of new treatments that only work on people with HLA type.
  The Harrison Wing outpatient department and the HIV/Hepatitis Depts of Chelsea & Westinster represent a diverse population with people living with HIV (PLHIV) and Hepatitis, having diverse genetic backgrounds. The HIV cohort is approximately 40% Black African. Within the white population, approximately 40% were not born in the UK and a significant proportion outside Europe. The Hepatitis cohort is equally as diverse. The genetic mix of the white population cannot therefore be assumed to follow expected prevalence for a UK or European population.
  Recruiting from this clinic group will facilitate the inclusion of people from diverse backgrounds being identified for future research that is HLA restricted as well as enabling timely recruitment when such studies open.
  Participants will be asked to provide a small blood samples (half a teaspoon), which will be tested for HLA typing in the hospital laboratory and consent to having some of their medical history collected.

  Summary of Results

  The purpose of the research was to determine the prevalence of certain HLA types in key populations, in preparation for future clinical trials investigating immune based therapies. A total of 204 patients from 2 centres were screened for HLA type, including HLA-A02 sensitivity. There median age range was 22-73 years and 72% of the population were men, and 28% were women.
  Out of all screened individuals,41% were white, 36.7% Black and 18.6% were Asian in ethnicity.
  Among them,49(24%) were HIV+HBV co-infected ,55(26%) with HBV mono infection and 100 (50%) with HIV mono infection.

  The overall HLA sensitivity for HLA type A*02:01 was 35 %-(72/204), among the screened population and the demographic variations of this HLA cohort is as follows:

  HIV Mono-infection
  HLA positive percentage 46/100 (46%)
  Median age range 46-55
  Sex
  M 37 (80%)
  F 9 (20%)
  Ethnicity
  White 33
  Black 10
  Asian 2
  Mixed/other 1

  HBV Monoinfection
  HLA positive percentage 17/56 (30.4%)
  Median age range 46-55
  Sex
  M 8 (47%)
  F 9 (53%)
  Ethnicity
  White 9
  Black 2
  Asian 6
  Mixed/other 0

  HIV/HBV Co-infection
  HLA positive percentage 09/48 (18.8%)
  Median age range 46-55
  Sex
  M 9 (100%)
  F 0
  Ethnicity
  White 7
  Black 0
  Asian 0
  Mixed/other 2

  The overall sensitivity for other HLA types reported was 65% (132/204) among the screened population and the demographic variations of these HLAs is as follows:

  HIV Mono-infection
  Median age range 36-45
  Sex
  M 42(74%)
  F 15 (26%)
  Ethnicity
  White 22
  Black 25
  Asian 6
  Mixed/other 4

  HBV mono-infection
  Median age range 46-55
  Sex
  M 25(64%)
  F 14(36%)
  Ethnicity
  White 6
  Black 13
  Asian 20
  Mixed/other 0

  HIB+HBV co-infection
  Median age range 46-55
  Sex
  M 26(72%)
  F 10(28%)
  Ethnicity
  White 8
  Black 24
  Asian 4
  Mixed/other 0

  The study survey found that 96% of the study population had no understanding of what HLA typing was or the purpose of phenotyping which we used in this study. This is a clear indicator that more work needs to be done to develop key messages about understanding HLA type for carrying out research studies in people living with HIV, particularly in 'cure' studies where HLA type is so important.

• REC name

  Wales REC 3

• REC reference

  23/WA/0114

• Date of REC Opinion

  28 Mar 2023

• REC opinion

  Favourable Opinion