Immune response to a recombinant hepatitis B vaccine in hemodialysis patients.
A 20-microgram dose of a recombinant hepatitis B vaccine was given at 0, 1, 2 and 6 months to 24 hemodialysis patients. From month 7 (i.e., 1 month after the fourth injection), 58.3% (14/24) of the patients had developed protective levels of antibodies against hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs). In patients responding to vaccination, the fourth injection led to an abrupt rise of the anti-HBs titres which reached their maximum 2 months later, that is, in month 8. At that time, the geometric mean titre of anti-HBs was 145.79 mlU/ml. Eighteen months after the start of vaccination, 50% (12/24) of the patients were maintaining protective levels of anti-HBs antibodies. It is noteworthy that these results could be obtained with a considerably lower dosage than previously recommended.
Docci
D
D
Nephrology and Dialysis Department, M. Bufalini Hospital, Cesena, Italy.
Cipolloni
P A
PA
Baldrati
L
L
Capponcini
C
C
Turci
F
F
Feletti
C
C
D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D014511:Uremia / Q000628:therapy; D014611:Vaccination; D014612:Vaccines; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines
D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D014612:Vaccines; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines