Persistence of vaccine-induced antibodies to hepatitis B surface antigen and the need for booster vaccination in adult subjects.
Protection against hepatitis B virus infection can be achieved by the induction of neutralizing antibodies against the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). An antibody concentration of 10 IU/l, as measured by radioimmunoassay, is considered to be protective. HBsAg can be produced either from the plasma of chronic carriers or by DNA recombinant technology in yeast cells. Plasma- and yeast-derived vaccines have been compared in several studies and their immunological properties were found to be similar, including the persistence of antibodies induced by either type of vaccine. Finally, yeast-derived hepatitis B vaccine can boost anti-HBs responses initially elicited by either plasma- or yeast-derived vaccine equally and effectively. In order to maintain protective immunity after hepatitis B vaccination, antibody determination and, if necessary, booster vaccination should be performed, particularly in high-risk persons.
Ambrosch
F
F
Institute for Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, University of Vienna, Austria.
Frisch-Niggemeyer
W
W
Kremsner
P
P
Kunz
C
C
André
F
F
Safary
A
A
Wiedermann
G
G
D000328:Adult; D000941:Antigens / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004274:DNA, Recombinant / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007117:Immunization, Secondary; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics; D013997:Time Factors; D014611:Vaccination; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000941:Antigens; D004274:DNA, Recombinant; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic