Platelet glycoprotein IIb HPA-3 a/b polymorphism is associated with native arteriovenous fistula thrombosis in chronic hemodialysis patients.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the association of Glycoprotein IIb (GPIIb) human platelet antigen-3 (HPA-3) a/b polymorphism with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on hemodialysis (HD) and native Arteriovenous fistula (AVF) thrombosis.

Methods: The polymorphism in the GPIIb subunit of the receptor HPA-3 (a and b alleles) was identified by polymerase chain reaction with sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP) in 145 HD patients and 120 healthy controls from a Chinese Han population. The HD patients were classified into two groups: G1 and G2. G1 included 65 HD patients presented at least one AVF thrombosis episode and G2 included 80 HD patients without any episode of AVF thrombosis.

Results: There were no significant differences in either HPA-3 a/b genotypes (aa, ab, and bb) frequency distribution (p = 0.396) or allele (a and b) frequency distribution (p = 0.146) between HD patients and control groups. However, there were significant differences in both HPA-3 a/b genotypes (aa, ab, and bb) distribution (χ(2) = 6.127, p = 0.047) and allele (a and b) frequency distribution (χ(2) = 5.954, p = 0.015) between G1 and G2. The relative risk of native AVF dysfunction in ab + bb patients compared with that of aa patients was 2.31 (95% confidence interval: 1.18-4.52).

Conclusions: These findings suggest an association between AVF thrombosis and the HPA-3b allele, and it is likely that HPA-3 a/b polymorphisms could be useful markers for potential risk of native AVF thrombosis in HD patients.