title: Vaccination against hepatitis B in homosexual men. A review.
abstract: Homosexual men are at increased risk for infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV). Both plasma-derived and recombinant deoxyribonucleic acid vaccines have been shown to induce long-standing protective immunity in this population. However, non-responders and weak responders to HBV vaccine have recently become a problem among homosexual men because of an impaired antibody response due to previous infection with human immunodeficiency virus. In addition, human immunodeficiency virus infection predisposes persons to the development of a HBV carrier state following HBV infection. Vaccination still remains the most effective tool for preventing hepatitis B in homosexual men, although recent behavioral changes have apparently resulted in a decreased incidence of HBV infection among this group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Goilav
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Piot
mesh_terms: D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D006716:Homosexuality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013997:Time Factors; D014611:Vaccination; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines