Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms of Vitamin D Binding Protein, Vitamin D Receptor and Retinoid X Receptor Alpha Genes and Response to Hepatitis B Vaccination in Renal Replacement Therapy Patients

Aim: Vitamin D (VD) was recently associated with response to hepatitis B vaccination in chronic kidney disease. We investigated whether polymorphisms in VD binding protein (GC), VD receptor (VDR) and retinoid X receptor α (RXRA) genes were associated with response to hepatitis B vaccination in renal replacement therapy (RRT) patients.

Method: The study was carried out on 692 responders and 223 non-responders.

Results: After adjustment for gender, age at the RRT onset, RRT vintage, chronic glomerulonephritis as a cause of renal failure and mean serum parathyroid hormone level, VDR rs1544410 polymorphism was the only one significantly associated with response to hepatitis B vaccination: homozygotes AA (adjusted OR 1.50, 95% CI: 1.17-1.94, p = 0.002) had higher risk to be non-responders than GG homozygotes.

Discussion: The VDR rs1544410 AA genotype may play a negative role (but not as an independent factor) in determining response to hepatitis B vaccination in RRT patients.