Low Frequency of HLA-B*15:02 in Northwest China: Implications for Carbamazepine-Induced Stevens-Johnson Syndrome/Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis Screening Strategies

Xu Wang,1,2 Ping Yang,1,2 Feng Rao,3 Longnan Wang,3 Fenglin Mou,3 Huimei Zhang,1,2 QiuYan Chen,3 Zheng Yin,3 Yanzi Jing,1,2 Qiang Liu,1,2 Xianrui Xu,1,2 Qing Zhang1,21Department of Neurology, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, People’s Republic of China; 2Ningxia Key Laboratory of Cerebrocranial Diseases, Incubation Base of National Key Laboratory, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, People’s Republic of China; 3First Clinical Medical College, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Qing Zhang, Email [email protected] Xianrui Xu, Email [email protected]: HLA-B*15:02 is an important genetic marker for predicting carbamazepine (CBZ)-induced Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS)/Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) in Asian populations. This descriptive pooled analysis aimed to characterize HLA-B*15:02 distribution in Northwest China and inform regional screening strategies.Methods: We genotyped HLA-B*15:02 via next-generation sequencing (NGS) in 98 healthy volunteers from Ningxia, and combined these data with 11 previously published studies (total N=3400) from Northwest China. Weighted means, medians, and interquartile ranges (IQR) were calculated by region and ethnicity, with Pearson’s chi‑square tests for group comparisons (significance threshold: P < 0.05).Results: The overall HLA-B*15:02 frequency was 1.81% (range: 0.00%– 3.30%; IQR: 0.24– 1.97%). Regional weighted frequencies were 2.12% (Qinghai), 1.98% (Shaanxi), 1.02% (Ningxia), and 0.38% (Xinjiang); ethnic frequencies ranged from 0% (Kazakh) to 2.28% (Hui). No significant regional (χ2 = 7.60, P = 0.055) or ethnic (χ2 = 7.35, P = 0.119) differences were observed, nor was there a significant difference between Han and other ethnic groups (P = 0.074).Conclusion: The overall frequency of HLA-B*15:02 in Northwest China is 1.81%, substantially lower than in South China, suggesting a lower expected yield of routine screening in this region.Keywords: HLA-B*15:02, distribution frequency, Northwest China, carbamazepine