title: Efficacy of heat-inactivated hepatitis B vaccine in haemodialysis patients and staff. Double-blind placebo-controlled trial.
abstract: The efficacy of a heat-inactivated hepatitis B vaccine, 3 micrograms of surface antigen (HBsAg), given at 0, 1, 2, and 5 months, was evaluated in 401 haemodialysis patients in 18 centres by a placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomised trial. The attack-rate of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections in the control group was 18% over 435 days. The protective efficacy rate of the vaccine was 78% against all HBV infections in the entire study (p = 0.00016), and 94% against HBsAg-positive hepatitis more than 3 months after day 0. Those patients in whom HBV developed showed no evidence of vaccine-acquired anti-HBs. Among 152 similarly randomised staff members receiving three monthly injections, all 5 HBsAg-positive infections occurred in the placebo group (p = 0.022). The vaccine induced anti-HBs in 88% of the patients and 100% of the staff. Immediately after the fourth injection, anti-HBs levels were as high in responding patients as in staff. There were no serious side effects. In the four-dose schedule the vaccine provides dialysis patients with protection of the same order as that given by other hepatitis B vaccines to normal subjects.
mesh_terms: D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010564:Personnel, Hospital; D011897:Random Allocation; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012306:Risk; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D014765:Viral Vaccines