title: Response to hepatitis B vaccine of persons positive for antibody to hepatitis B core antigen.
abstract: The significance of antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) present in a person's serum without hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) or its antibody (anti-HBs) is unknown. Serum specimens from 281 persons initially positive only for anti-HBc by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) were retested by radioimmunoassay (RIA), and of these, 177 (63%) remained positive for anti-HBc by both assays. Of these 177 persons, 3 were positive for HBsAg, and 72 possessed low levels of anti-HBs [less than 10 sample ratio units; (SRU's)]. When persons positive for anti-HBc by EIA and RIA were given one 20-micrograms dose of plasma-derived hepatitis B vaccine and tested for anti-HBs 1 month later, a booster response was observed in 14 of 41 (34%) persons with low level anti-HBs and 3 of 50 (6%) persons negative for anti-HBs. Of those positive only for anti-HBc by EIA but negative by RIA, only 3 of 37 (8.1%) showed a booster response. Of those who completed the three-dose immunization series and did not show a booster response, 63 of 80 (78.8%) developed anti-HBs levels greater than 10 standard ratio unit. The majority of persons with isolated anti-HBc will have a primary rather than a booster response to hepatitis B vaccine.
authors.affiliation: Alaska Native Medical Center, Indian Health Service, Anchorage.
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: McMahon
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Parkinson
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Helminiak
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Wainwright
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bulkow
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kellerman-Douglas
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schoenberg
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ritter
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D006801:Humans; D007117:Immunization, Secondary; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines