[Hepatitis B virus vaccine: early and late response in Chileans with high risk of infection].
BACKGROUND
Hepatitis B vaccine has demonstrated to be very effective and safe preventing hepatitis B virus infection. Long term protection induced by hepatitis B vaccination depends on the initial immune response and the declining rate of anti-HBs titers. AIM. To investigate early and late response to hepatitis B vaccine in a sample of high risk Chilean population.


METHODS
Thirty one subjects (20 relatives of hepatitis B chronic carriers, 10 health service workers and one HIV seropositive) were vaccinated with a plasma derivated hepatitis B vaccine. Early and late response were estimated by anti-HBs titers.


RESULTS
Twenty eight subjects (90%) produced protective titers of anti-HBs after 2 months from the third dose of vaccine (early response), and they remained at these levels in 75% of vaccinated individuals after three years (late response). All the subjects without protective titers after the three year follow up had produced anti-HBs levels lower than 300 UI at the early response. Hepatitis B vaccination was not associated with significant side effects.


CONCLUSIONS
This experience confirms that hepatitis B vaccine is safe and effective inducing immunity in high risk subjects. Our data suggest that the early response to hepatitis B vaccine is able to identify those subjects requiring closer surveillance for boosters.
Hurtado
C
C
Centro de Gastroenterología, Hospital Clínico, Universidad de Chile, Santiago de Chile.
Brahm
J
J
Chesta
J
J
Latorre
R
R
Velasco
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002677:Chile; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016272:Occupational Health
D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines
Vacuna contra el virus de la hepatitis B: respuesta precoz y tardía en Chilenos con alto riesgo de infección.