title: Immunogenicity of hepatitis B vaccine in renal transplant recipients.
abstract: 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.
authors.forename: I M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Jacobson
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jaffers
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Dienstag
authors.forename: N E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Tolkoff-Rubin
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Cosimi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Delmonico
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Watkins
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hinkle
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: O'Rourke
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Russell
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines