title: Impaired response to hepatitis B vaccine in HIV infected children.
abstract: Eighteen human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) vertically infected children (HIV group) and 33 seroreverted children (SR group), who had completed hepatitis B vaccination (Engerix B, 20 micrograms dose) were studied. Four out of 18 (22%) HIV children failed to develop protective antibody levels (anti-HBs titres less than 10 mIU ml-1) compared with 1 out of 33 (3%) SR children (p less than 0.05). Magnitude of response among HIV children was significantly lower than among SR children. In HIV children the probability that anti-HBs titres persist above the protective levels was significantly lower than in the SR group at any time during the 24 month follow-up. These results show that HIV children have a suboptimal response to hepatitis B immunization and the protection is less durable. Further studies are needed to determine the optimal protocol for hepatitis B immunization in HIV children.
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Department IV, University of Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zuin
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Principi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tornaghi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Paccagnini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Re
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Massironi
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Ragni
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D007117:Immunization, Secondary; D007223:Infant; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines