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BACKGROUND: A strong pharmacogenetic association has been reported in Chinese patients between human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B*1502 and carbamazepine (CBZ)-induced Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS). METHODS: We have genotyped the HLA-B alleles in 56 Caucasian patients with varying severities of CBZ hypersensitivity and 43 controls on CBZ without adverse effects. RESULTS: None of our patients (including two with blistering skin rashes) were positive for the HLA-B*1502 allele. HLA-B*0702 allele may protect against severe CBZ hypersensitivity but warrants further study. Of secondary interest, the correlation between HLA-B*0801 and HLA-DR3, DQ2 and TNF -308 alleles (on the ancestral haplotype 8.1) is consistent with our previous findings. CONCLUSION: HLA-B*1502 does not seem to be a marker for all forms of CBZ-induced hypersensitivity in a Caucasian population.
Alfirevic et al. (Fri,) studied this question.