title: Immunogenicity of hepatitis B vaccine in healthy very low birth weight infants.
abstract: We studied the immunogenic response to hepatitis B vaccine of infants weighing < or = 1500 gm at birth. Infants were divided into two groups: those weighing < or = 1000 gm (n = 22) and those weighing 1001 to 1501 gm (n = 28). When immunized early (3 days of age, n = 25), these infants had a response rate (defined as antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen titer > 10 mIU/ml) of 68%, whereas when the first vaccine was given at 1 month of age (n = 25), a 96% response rate was noted, irrespective of birth weight and weight at the time of immunization (p < 0.02).
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson 39216, USA.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Butler
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Feldman
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Graves
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Rhodes
mesh_terms: D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines