title: Immunization and vaccination protocol in hemodialysis patients with naturally acquired hepatitis B antibody.
abstract: Long-term behavior of naturally acquired anti-HBs antibody was tested every 6 months for 3 years in 22 dialysis patients. Fifteen of them maintained protective levels throughout follow-up (102 and 85.5 mUI/ml at the beginning and the end, respectively). Seven of them became anti-HBs and were submitted to a 40-micrograms booster injection of hepatitis B vaccine. Seroconversion was observed in 6 of 7 patients (85.7%) with a mean anti-HBs titer of 90.4 and 47.3 mUI/ml after 3 and 6 months, respectively. Protective anti-HBs level may be maintained longer in patients with natural immunity than in HBsAg-negative vaccinated subjects. Effectiveness of a reduced vaccination protocol in patients who have lost their natural immunization should be confirmed with further studies.
authors.affiliation: Servizio Nefrologia e Dialisi, Ospedale di Trescore Balneario, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Faranna
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cozzi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Belloni
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pedrini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D008875:Middle Aged; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines