title: Hepatitis B vaccination of 113 hemophiliacs: lower antibody response in anti-LAV/HTLV-III-positive patients.
abstract: One-hundred thirteen adults and children with hemophilia or other congenital bleeding disorders were vaccinated against the hepatitis B virus. Each patient was given three subcutaneous injections of the vaccine at monthly intervals and then a fourth booster dose 14 months after the first. The vaccine was highly immunogenic, since 111 of 113 patients (98%) produced anti-HBs (10 mIU/ml or more). After the first three vaccine doses and after the booster dose, ten anti-LAV/HTLV-III-positive hemophiliacs produced anti-HBs but had a lower average titer than anti-LAV/HTLV-III-negative hemophiliacs. Of the 23 patients treated with concentrates in the 15 month postvaccination period only, none acquired HBV infection. Of the 50 patients treated with concentrates also in the 6 month prevaccination period, one developed hepatitis B. In summary, the vaccine was highly immunogenic in both children and adults with hemophilia; anti-LAV/HTLV-III-positive patients responded to the vaccine, but the average anti-HBs response was lower; no case of hepatitis B occurred in patients treated with concentrates only in the postvaccination period.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D000917:Antibody Formation; D001778:Blood Coagulation Disorders / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006678:HIV / Q000276:immunology*; D006467:Hemophilia A / Q000276:immunology*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood; D003699:Hepatitis D / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000637:Transaminases / Q000097:blood; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D000637:Transaminases