Liver Fibrosis Risk is Decreased by HLA-Cw6 Presence and Biologic Therapy Use in Psoriatic Arthritis

Presence of the HLA-Cw6 allele and use of biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) protect against liver fibrosis, according to a study published in Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology.

Researchers aimed to evaluate the role of the HLA-Cw6 allele and biologic therapy in patients with PsA in a retrospective longitudinal study. A total of 209 patients with PsA with determination of the HLA-Cw6 allele were included in the study. The fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) score and a multivariate logistic model were used to estimate liver fibrosis.

Of the patients included in the study, 25.3% were HLA-Cw6 positive, 59.8% were receiving bDMARDs, 29.6% had arterial hypertension (AHT); 24%, dyslipidemia; and 4.2%, acute myocardial infarction (AMI). In patients with normal FIB-4 values, the HLA-Cw6 allele was found more frequently. In patients with abnormal FIB-4 values, AHT, AMI, and dyslipidemia were more frequent. HLA-Cw6 presence had an odds ratio (OR) of 0.210 (95% CI 0.062-0.707, P = .012) and bDMARD use had an OR of 0.397 (95% CI 0.166–-0.949, P = .038). Both were confirmed as protective factors against liver fibrosis, but AHT was identified as a risk factor (OR 2.973, 95% CI 1.125-7.858, P = .028)

“In PsA, the HLA-Cw6 allele and bDMARDs behave as protective factors for liver fibrosis, while AHT is an independent risk factor,” concluded the study authors.

Reference
Macía-Villa C, Morell-Hita JL, Revenga-Martínez M, Díaz-Miguel Pérez C. HLA-Cw6 allele and biologic therapy are protective factors against liver fibrosis in psoriatic arthritis patients. Clin Exp Rheumatol. Published online ahead of print January 23, 2023. doi:10.55563/clinexprheumatol/anuuqb