Prospective screening for human leukocyte antigen-B*5701 avoids abacavir hypersensitivity reaction in the ethnically mixed French HIV population

The association of human leukocyte antigen-B*5701 with abacavir hypersensitivity varies depending on ethnic origin. We confirmed the high specificity of B*5701 in the ethnically mixed French population and used a rapid and inexpensive polymerase chain reaction strategy to evaluate the predictiveness of B*5701 screening. The incidence of hypersensitivity decreased from 12% before screening to 0% after screening, and the rate of unwarranted interruptions of abacavir therapy decreased from 10.2% to 0.73%. We therefore recommend the implementation of this cost-effective screen before treatment with abacavir.