title: Hepatitis B vaccination results in 140 liver transplant recipients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Human autologous liver transplantation is possible due to an adequate suppression of the body's immune response. This also causes a higher hepatitis infection rate, making hepatitis prevention very important.
  
  
  METHODS
  We describe our experience with hepatitis B virus vaccination in 140 adult liver transplant recipients, transplanted from 1986 to 1994 with more than one year of follow-up. Excluded were those who had hepatitis B surface antigens or antibodies to those antigens before the transplant. The vaccination schedule was 0-1-2 months with a double dose of recombinant vaccine.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The total response rate (surface antigen antibodies > 10 U) was 40% (56/140); the rate was 47.7% in men and 26% in women. At the end of the study, only 17.1% (24/140) of the patients had antibodies > 10 U. The response rate was higher in patients with antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen (66.6%) than in those lacking antibodies (31.7%), and more long lasting (42.4% vs 11.2%). The response rate in 116 patients with booster doses was 12.9%. Six correctly vaccinated patients (4.28%) acquired new hepatitis B virus infections after the operation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The total response rate in these patients is much lower than in the general population, and there is a rapid decline of titers, probably due to immunosuppression. The role of booster doses in these patients should be clarified.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Cirugia General, Hospital 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Loinaz
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: de Juanes
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: López
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lumbreras
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gómez
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gonzalez-Pinto
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jiménez
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fuertes
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines