Phenotypic polymorphism of haptoglobin: A novel risk factor for the development of infection in liver cirrhosis

• Published in: Human immunology 2011-04, Vol.72 (4), p.348-354
• Main Authors: Vitalis, Zsuzsanna, Altorjay, Istvan, Tornai, Istvan, Palatka, Karoly, Kacska, Sandor, Palyu, Eszter, Tornai, David, Udvardy, Miklos, Harsfalvi, Jolan, Dinya, Tamas, Veres, Gabor, Lakatos, Peter Laszlo, Papp, Maria
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Alleles; Allergy and Immunology; Bacterial infection; Bacterial Infections - genetics; Cohort Studies; Female; Gene Frequency; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Haptoglobin polymorphism; Haptoglobins - chemistry; Haptoglobins - genetics; Haptoglobins - immunology; Humans; Liver cirrhosis; Liver Cirrhosis - genetics; Liver Cirrhosis - immunology; Male; Middle Aged; Phenotype; Polymorphism, Genetic; Risk Factors; Survival Analysis
• ISSN: 0198-8859; 1879-1166
• DOI: 10.1016/j.humimm.2011.01.008

Abstract The α-chain alleles 1 and 2 of haptoglobin (Hp) molecule account for three phenotypes, which have biologically important differences in their antioxidant, scavenging, and immunomodulatory properties and may thereby influence the course of inflammatory diseases. A follow-up observational study was conducted to assess the association between haptoglobin phenotype and the development of clinically significant bacterial infections in patients with liver cirrhosis. Sera of 336 patients with liver cirrhosis of various etiologies and 384 healthy subjects were investigated. Haptoglobin phenotypes were determined by gel electrophoresis and assigned corresponding genotype. Haptoglobin phenotype distributions of patients and controls was similar (Hp 1-1: 10.7% vs 11.5%, Hp 2-1: 47.9% vs 46.1% and Hp 2-2: 41.4% vs 42.4%). The probability of clinically significant bacterial infections was calculated for each haptoglobin phenotype (Hp 1-1: 50.0%, Hp 2-1: 36.0% and Hp 2-2: 26.6%, p = 0.039). In a logistic regression analysis, Hp 1-1 phenotype ( p = 0.015, OR: 2.74, 95% CI: 1.22–6.13), Child-Pugh stage ( p = 0.038, OR: 1.40, 95% CI: 1.02–1.91) and presence of co-morbidities ( p < 0.001, OR: 2.64, 95% CI: 1.63–4.27) were independently associated with infections. In a Cox regression analysis, Hp 1-1 phenotype ( p = 0.014), Child-Pugh stage C ( p < 0.001), and presence of co-morbidities ( p = 0.004) were associated with time to first infectious episode. Phenotypic haptoglobin polymorphism was independent predictor for risk and time to first clinically significant bacterial infectious episode.