Immunogenicity of hepatitis B vaccine in renal transplant recipients.
To evaluate the immunogenicity of hepatitis B vaccine in renal transplant recipients, we administered three 40-microgram doses of vaccine to 17 patients who had previously undergone transplantation and were on immunosuppressive therapy. Life-table analysis revealed a cumulative antibody response rate of only 17.6% at 12 months, and the three responders had low titers of antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen. There were no serious adverse effects and no episodes of graft rejection in responders or nonresponders. In addition, the ratio of helper/inducer (T4) to suppressor/cytotoxic (T8) T cells in vaccinees bore no relationship to the immunogenicity of the vaccine. These data indicate that hepatitis B vaccine is weakly immunogenic in renal transplant recipients and illustrate the need for vaccination prior to transplantation for maximal protection against hepatitis B virus infection.
Jacobson
I M
IM
Jaffers
G
G
Dienstag
J L
JL
Tolkoff-Rubin
N E
NE
Cosimi
A B
AB
Delmonico
F
F
Watkins
E
E
Hinkle
C
C
O'Rourke
S
S
Russell
P S
PS
D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000917:Antibody Formation; D005260:Female; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines