HLA-B*53:01 Is a Significant Risk Factor of Liver Injury due to Phenytoin and Other Antiepileptic Drugs in African Americans

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: To investigate human leukocyte antigen alleles associated with liver injury due to antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) in African Americans (AA). METHODS: In this study, 21 AA with AED drug-induced liver injury (DILI), 176 AA with DILI due to non-AEDs, and 5816 AA population controls were included. RESULTS: HLA-B*53:01 was significantly associated with aromatic AED-DILI (odds ratio: 4.52, 95% confidence interval: 2.42–8.44, P = 1.46 × 10−5). Phenytoin DILI showed the strongest association with HLA-B*53:01 (odds ratio: 9.17; 95% confidence interval: 3.61–23.28, P = 1.1 × 10−5). The HLA-B*53:01 allele was carried by 8 of 9 AA phenytoin DILI cases. DISCUSSION: HLA-B*53:01 is a significant risk factor of liver injury due to antiepileptics, particularly phenytoin, in AA.