However, when we analyzed the mutated IGHV patients group, we found that those hiMBL (n = 121) with HLA-DQB1*03 (60% vs. 26%, P = 0.062, Fig 1), and those with >2.5x109/L clonal B-cell count at diagnosis (88% vs. 35%, P = 0.001) had a higher risk of 15-year progression to CLL than those with other alleles. Here, HLA-DQB1 is linked to B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.