title: Antibody level after hepatitis B vaccination in hemodialysis patients: influence of hepatitis C virus infection.
abstract: Seroconversion after hepatitis B vaccine has been estimated to occur when the level of anti-HBs is higher than 10 IU/1, but recently is has been considered that an antibody titer above 100 IU/1 is necessary to guarantee an efficacious protection. We prospectively studied the evolution of anti-HBs after primary vaccination (3 doses; Engerix B, 40 mu g each) in 56 seronegative and not previously vaccinated hemodialysis patients. Three months after vaccine administration, seroconversion (anti-HBs > 10 IU/1) was found in 43 patients (76.7%), but an adequate response (titer > 100 IU/1) was observed only in 30 (53.5%). At 1 year after vaccination only 1 (3.3%) of the 30 cases with an effective response had lost his anti-HBs, while 12 of the 13 patients (92.3%) with an inadequate response (anti-HBs between 10 and 100 IU/1) had no detectable antibodies (p < 0.01, chi2). Considering that an antibody titer above 100 IU/1 following vaccination is necessary in order to maintain that level of antibody 1 year later, we analyzed the factors which influenced obtaining this level of antibody. Age, time on hemodialysis, serum albumin, Kt/V and protein catabolic rate did not affect the response to the vaccine. Females had a better response than males, and interestingly we found that hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection influenced the level of immunity. 27 out of the 43 HCV-negative cases (62.7%) obtained anti-HBs levels greater than 100 IU/1, but only 3 out of the 13 HCV-infected patients (23%) had an anti-HBs above 100 IU/1 (p < 0.01, chi2). Our results suggest that after hepatitis B vaccine, an antibody titer higher than 100 IU/1 is necessary to maintain the antibody level 1 year later, and that HCV infection may reduce the effectiveness of hepatitis B vaccine in hemodialysis patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Hospital Ramon y Cajal, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Navarro
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Teruel
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Mateos
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Marcen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ortuno
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000276:immunology*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies