Other studies are consistent with our data and point to a protective role of HLA-DQA1 in HBV infection: HLA-DQA1*0102 and HLA-DQA1*0104 were linked to a reduced risk of chronic HBV infection and the prevention of liver cirrhosis development in a Chinese population [40]; the frequency of the HLA-DQA1*01:02 allele was significantly lower in the chronic hepatitis B group compared to the group that experienced spontaneously resolved HBV infection [41]. Here, HLA-DQA1 is linked to cirrhosis of liver.