title: Hepatitis B vaccination in patients with chronic hepatitis C.
abstract: The aim of the study was to evaluate the safety, immunogenicity, and possible therapeutic effect of hepatitis B vaccine in patients with chronic hepatitis C. The subjects studied included three groups: group I, 26 patients with chronic hepatitis C who were susceptible to hepatitis B virus infection; group II, 35 healthy subjects who were susceptible to both hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus infection; and group III, 30 patients with chronic hepatitis C receiving no hepatitis B vaccination as controls. Three 20 microg/dose of recombinant hepatitis B vaccines were given to subjects of groups I and II in months 0, 1, and 6. Blood samples from the subjects were collected before and 1 month after each dose of vaccination for serological testing. The subjects of groups I and II had similar antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) response rates after the first (30.8% vs. 17.1%), second (61.5% vs. 60.0%), and third (88.5% vs. 91.4%) doses of vaccination. Also, their geometric mean titers of anti-HBs did not differ much when vaccination completed in 7 months (360 vs. 581 mIU/ml). During vaccination period, patients with chronic hepatitis C demonstrated no significant change of serum cytokines and HCV RNA levels, but significantly lowered ALT levels after three doses of vaccination. Hepatitis B vaccination is safe and immunogenic in patients with chronic hepatitis C. It did not significantly affect their levels of HCV RNA, but tended to lower ALT levels.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Veterans General Hospital-Taipei, and National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan. sdlee@vghtpe.gov.tw
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: C Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: F Y
authors.initials: FY
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Lo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000097:blood; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral; D000410:Alanine Transaminase