Objective To analyze the correlation between HLA-A and B genotypes and maculopapular exanthema (MPE) caused by Carbamazepine (CBZ) and Oxcarbazepine (OXC), and to explore the genetic risk factors of MPE. Methods Patients with MPE (rash group) and patients without MPE (non-rash group) after taking CBZ or OXC were retrospectively collected from January 2016 to October 2021 in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University. DNA was extracted from peripheral blood. HLA-A and HLA-B alleles were sequenced by high resolution sequencing, and a case-control study was conducted to analysis the correlations between MPE and HLA genotypes. Results A total of 100 patients with CBZ-MPE, 100 patients with CBZ-tolerant, 50 patients with OXC-MPE, and 50 patients with OXC-tolerant were collected. There was no significant difference in age and sex between CBZ, OXC rash groups and non-rash groups The average latency of CBZ-rash group was (11.31±11.00) days and their average dosage was (348.46±174.10) mg; the average latency of OXC-rash group was (11.67±10.34) days and their average dosage was (433.52±209.22) mg [equivalent to CBZ (289.01±139.48 mg)], showing no significant difference in latency and dosage between CBZ and OXC (P>0.05). The positive rates of HLA-A*24:02 and A*30:01 in CBZ-rash group were 28% and 6%, respectively, which were significantly higher than those in CBZ-non rash group (16% and 0%, both P=0.04). The positive rate of HLA-B*40:01 in CBZ-rash group was 18%, which was significantly lower than that in CBZ-non rash group (40%, P<0.001). No association between HLA-A or B genotype and OXC-rash was found yet. When pooled, it was still found that the positive rates of HLA-A*24:02 and A*30:01 in the rash group were higher than those in the non-rash group, while the positive rate of HLA-B*40:01 in the rash group was lower than that in the non-rash group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusions HLA-A*24:02 and A*30:01 were associated with MPE caused by CBZ, and may be common risk factors for aromatic antiepileptic drugs.