Haplotype HLA-B8-DR3 confers susceptibility to hepatitis C virus-related mixed cryoglobulinemia

Our aim was to investigate whether host genetic factors are involved in the onset of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related mixed cryoglobulinemia (MC). We studied 25 consecutive patients presenting with a full-blown clinical picture of MC by physical examination, blood chemistry, assessment of cryoglobulins and their composition, nonorgan-specific autoantibodies, antibodies to HCV, serum HCV RNA, and HLA polymorphism. Biopsies of liver, bone marrow, and minor salivary glands were also performed in a number of patients. HLA results were compared with those of normal controls and patients with chronic HCV infection without MC and negative for autoimmune phenomena (pathological controls). Type II MC was found in 14 of 25 patients (56%), and type III MC was found in the remaining 11 (44%). All patients were positive for antibodies to HCV and/or serum HCV RNA. HLA-B8 was found in 40% (10 of 25) of patients compared with 10. 1% (38 of 377) of normal controls (P = .00003, Pcorrected = .0005, relative risk [RR] 5.9) and 6.7% (2 of 30) of pathological controls (P = .007, Pcorrected = not significant). As for class II HLA molecules, only DR3 was significantly more frequent in MC patients (40%, 10 of 25) than in normal controls (15.1%, 57 of 377; P = .003, Pcorrected = .03, RR 3.7). Odds ratio (OR) for the risk of developing MC was calculated in patients positive for B8 and/or DR3, and the highest OR (8.2) was observed in individuals possessing both. The results suggest that the development of HCV-related MC is associated with HLA-B8 and DR3 markers.