title: Persistence of specific antibodies after hepatitis B vaccination.
abstract: Antibody levels to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) in healthy adults vaccinated with three doses of plasma-derived hepatitis B vaccine, containing 20, 10 or 5 micrograms of antigen, were followed for 4-6 years. After vaccination, 1034 of 1076 individuals had developed anti-HBs and 1016 had antibody concentrations above 10 IU/l. 681 of all initial responders could be tested after 1 year, 520 after 2, 380 after 3 and 213 after 4 years. 72 and 39 individuals, respectively, of the 185 earliest vaccinated volunteers were available for retesting after 5 and 6 years. Four years after the first vaccination, anti-HBs levels in 34% had dropped below 10 IU/l. The persistence of anti-HBs above this value depended on the peak antibody response after the third vaccination. Whereas all vaccinees tested with peak anti-HBs levels above 10,000 IU/l still had levels above 10 IU/l after 6 years, no-one with initial values between 10 and 100 IU/l maintained antibody concentrations above 10 IU/l for longer than 4 years. The rate of decrease in anti-HBs was independent of the peak anti-HBs value, the vaccine dose, and the age and sex of the vaccinees.
authors.affiliation: Max von Pettenkofer Institute for Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, University of Munich, F.R.G.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jilg
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Deinhardt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D006801:Humans; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D008297:Male; D013997:Time Factors; D014611:Vaccination; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines