Hepatitis B vaccination in preterm infants.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the immunogenicity and safety of existing recommendations for hepatitis B vaccination in preterm infants.


METHODS
Recombinant hepatitis B vaccine (H-B-VAX II, 5 micrograms per dose) was given to 85 preterm infants divided into two groups, using two different schedules. Forty four group A infants with birthweights of < 2000 g received three doses at 1, 2, and 7 months of age. Forty one group B infants with birthweights of > or = 2000 g received three doses at 0, 1, and 6 months of age.


RESULTS
After vaccination, 42 infants from group A (95%) and 37 infants from group B (90%) developed protective levels of antibody. The final seropositive rate and the geometric mean concentration of hepatitis B surface antibody between the two groups were not significantly different. The immune response of preterm infants to hepatitis B vaccines was similar to that of term infants in a previous study.


CONCLUSIONS
Preterm infants can be given hepatitis B vaccines using one of the above two different schedules, at a cutoff birthweight of 2000 g.
Huang
F Y
FY
Department of Paediatrics, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Lee
P I
PI
Lee
C Y
CY
Huang
L M
LM
Chang
L Y
LY
Liu
S C
SC
D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight / Q000276:immunology; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000276:immunology; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines