title: Immune response to hepatitis B vaccine in pregnant women receiving post-exposure prophylaxis.
abstract: Hepatitis B immunoglobulin and vaccine were given as post-exposure prophylaxis to 73 women after an outbreak of hepatitis B due to in vitro fertilization treatment. The immunization schedule consisted of 5 ml of hepatitis B immunoglobulin (125 IU/ml) at months 0 and 1 and recombinant hepatitis B vaccine (10 micrograms of HBvaxDNA) at months 0, 1, 2 and 6. The safety and immunogenicity of hepatitis B vaccine were studied in 16 women who became pregnant after in vitro fertilization; 57 non-pregnant women receiving the same treatment served as controls. Blood samples were drawn at 0, 1, 2, 6 and 7 months. One patient had a clinical abortion 2 days after initial immunization; other side effects of vaccination were not found in vaccinees or in their offspring. All vaccinees exhibited antibodies against hepatitis B surface antigen after vaccination but relatively low peak geometric mean titers of 258 IU/l and 684 IU/l were attained in pregnant and non-pregnant women, respectively. There were no significant differences in seroconversion rates and geometric mean titers between the two groups although the immune response to hepatitis B vaccine was slower and lower in pregnant women at all times. Our results suggest that when post-exposure prophylaxis for hepatitis B infection is indicated, passive active immunization can be started safely during pregnancy. The relative weak response to the vaccine calls for monitoring of the anti-HBs 1 month after the initial series of vaccinations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Dijkzigt, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Grosheide
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Schalm
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: van Os
authors.forename: W P
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Fetter
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Heijtink
mesh_terms: D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines