The First Case of Abacavir Hypersensitivity Associated with the HLA-B*57:01-Positive Allele in Korea

ABSTRACT

On the 12th day of abacavir treatment, a 39-year old HIV-infected male patient was admitted with fever, generalized rash, abdominal pain, and watery diarrhea that had persisted for five days. Results of blood tests indicated rapid progression of hepatitis and renal failure. The day after stopping anti-retroviral therapy, his fever subsided and his liver function began to normalize. He was clinically diagnosed with abacavir hypersensitivity and was found to carry the HLA-B*5701 allele. This is the first reported case of abacavir hypersensitivity associated with the presence of the HLA-B*5701 allele in Korea.