title: Poor response to a recombinant hepatitis B vaccine in dialysis patients.
abstract: Eighty-three dialysis patients were inoculated with 20 micrograms of the recombinant derived hepatitis B vaccine Engerix-B at o, I and 6 months. Twenty-seven (32.5%) became seropositive for anti-HBs antibody after the third inoculation. Of the 56 non-responders, 48 received a 40 micrograms booster dose of vaccine 6 weeks after completion of the initial course and a further eight seroconverted. Six months after the third inoculation only 18/71 patients retested (25.3%) had demonstrable antibodies. We were unable to identify clinical or laboratory parameters separating responders from non responders to the vaccine. We recommend regular checks of anti-HBs status of vaccinated patients as it cannot be assumed that even initial responders retain their immunity. Those infection control procedures known to have decreased the incidence of hepatitis B infection in dialysis units should not be relaxed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Renal Medicine, Royal Brisbane Hospital, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Fleming
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Moran
authors.forename: W G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Cooksley
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Faoagali
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010531:Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014611:Vaccination; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines