The Impact of HLA Alleles on the Severity of COVID-19 in Kidney Transplant Patientss.

Abstract

Background: Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) genes play a crucial role in immune response against infectious disease. In this study, we aimed to investigate the frequency of HLA alleles in kidney transplant patients diagnosed with COVID-19 and explore potential associations with disease severity.

Material and methods: Kidney transplant patients who were diagnosed with COVID-19 and followed up at the Istanbul Medical Faculty Hospital kidney transplant clinic between March 2020 and January 2023 were included in this study. All patients were genotyped for HLA loci (HLA-A,-B,-DRB1) at low resolution using the Luminex method. Patients were classified as mild, moderate, and severe according to COVID-19 severity.

Results: In a study of 332 kidney transplant patients, 52 developed severe COVID-19, with 24 deaths. Severe cases were older and had higher rates of hospitalization, Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admissions, acute kidney injury, and mortality (all P < .001). The HLA-B*38 and HLA-DRB1*11 alleles were more common in severe cases (P = .045 and P = .005). Among those who died, cardiovascular disease, longer hospital stays, and ICU admissions were more frequent (all P < .001). The HLA-B*35 allele was higher in the deceased (P = .021), while the HLA-DRB1*03 allele was absent in those who died but present in 8.3% of survivors (P = .042).

Conclusion: The association with HLA was examined for susceptibility with COVID-19 infection in patients who underwent kidney transplantation: HLA-B*38 and HLA-DRB1*11 were found to be more common in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infections.