Evaluation of a region-wide hepatitis B vaccination program in dialysis patients: experience in an Italian region. The Latium Hepatitis Prevention Group.
In 1985-1986, 634 adult dialysis patients were tested prior to hepatitis B vaccination, representing 40% of the total patients in Latium, an Italian region. HBsAg and anti-HBs prevalences were 7.1 and 36.0%, respectively. Merck, Sharp & Dohme (MSD) and Pasteur plasma-derived vaccines were randomly allocated to the 44 dialysis units. An anti-HBs response greater than or equal to 10 IU/l was elicited in 58.5% of 236 subjects tested at 6 months, 63.4% MSD and 52.4% Pasteur (p n.s.). The relatively low response to the vaccine in this high-risk group stresses the need to improve the efficacy of the vaccination and to maintain policies of environmental control.
Albertoni
F
F
Regional Epidemiologic Unit, Rome, Italy.
Battilomo
A
A
Di Nardo
V
V
Franco
E
E
Ippolito
G
G
Marinucci
G
G
Perucci
C A
CA
Petrosillo
N
N
Sommella
L
L
D000328:Adult; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000517:prevention & control; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines