Whole genome sequencing identifies genetic variants associated with co-trimoxazole hypersensitivity in Asians

J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2021 Apr;147(4):1402-1412. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2020.08.003. Epub 2020 Aug 10.

Abstract

Background: Co-trimoxazole, a sulfonamide antibiotic, is used to treat a variety of infections worldwide, and it remains a common first-line medicine for prophylaxis against Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia. However, it can cause severe cutaneous adverse reaction (SCAR), including Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, and drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms. The pathomechanism of co-trimoxazole-induced SCAR remains unclear.

Objective: We aimed to investigate the genetic predisposition of co-trimoxazole-induced SCAR.

Methods: We conducted a multicountry case-control association study that included 151 patients with of co-trimoxazole-induced SCAR and 4631 population controls from Taiwan, Thailand, and Malaysia, as well as 138 tolerant controls from Taiwan. Whole-genome sequencing was performed for the patients and population controls from Taiwan; it further validated the results from Thailand and Malaysia.

Results: The whole-genome sequencing study (43 case patients vs 507 controls) discovered that the single-nucleotide polymorphism rs41554616, which is located between the HLA-B and MICA loci, had the strongest association with co-trimoxazole-induced SCAR (P = 8.2 × 10-9; odds ratio [OR] = 7.7). There were weak associations of variants in co-trimoxazole-related metabolizing enzymes (CYP2D6, GSTP1, GCLC, N-acetyltransferase [NAT2], and CYP2C8). A replication study using HLA genotyping revealed that HLA-B∗13:01 was strongly associated with co-trimoxazole-induced SCAR (the combined sample comprised 91 case patients vs 2545 controls [P = 7.2 × 10-21; OR = 8.7]). A strong HLA association was also observed in the case patients from Thailand (P = 3.2 × 10-5; OR = 3.6) and Malaysia (P = .002; OR = 12.8), respectively. A meta-analysis and phenotype stratification study further indicated a strong association between HLA-B∗13:01 and co-trimoxazole-induced drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (P = 4.2 × 10-23; OR = 40.1).

Conclusion: This study identified HLA-B∗13:01 as an important genetic factor associated with co-trimoxazole-induced SCAR in Asians.

Keywords: Co-trimoxazole; HLA-B∗13:01; severe hypersensitivity reactions; sulfonamide; whole-genome sequencing.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / adverse effects*
  • Anti-Infective Agents, Urinary / adverse effects*
  • Asian People / genetics*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Drug Hypersensitivity / genetics*
  • Female
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease*
  • HLA-B Antigens / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Malaysia / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
  • Taiwan / epidemiology
  • Thailand / epidemiology
  • Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination / adverse effects*
  • Whole Genome Sequencing
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Anti-Infective Agents, Urinary
  • HLA-B Antigens
  • Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination