Toxoplasmic encephalitis: role of Human Leucocyte Antigens/alleles associated with rapid progression to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

Background/aims: The frequency of Human Leucocyte Antigens/alleles associated with rapid progression from Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome was evaluated in Brazilian patients with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome with and without Toxoplasmic Encephalitis. Methods: 114 patients with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (41 with Toxoplasmic Encephalitis, 43 with anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies, without Toxoplasmic Eencephalitis, and 30 without anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies circulating and without Toxoplasmic Encephalitis) were studied. Results: Human Leucocyte Antigens/alleles associated with rapid progression to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, particularly HLA-B35, -DR3, and -DR1 allele group, were significantly less represented in patients with Toxoplasmic Encephalitis and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. Conclusion: The presence of these Human Leucocyte Antigens/Alleles that predispose to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome progression was associated with resistance to Toxoplasmic Encephalitis among Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 carriers. Keywords: HLA, AIDS, Encephalitis, T. gondii