title: Inactivated hepatitis A vaccine in Chinese patients with chronic hepatitis B infection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatitis B (HBV)-infected patients have a higher morbidity and mortality when super-infected by hepatitis A (HAV).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the immunogenicity and safety of a commercial inactivated HAV vaccine in Chinese patients with chronic HBV infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-five HBV-infected patients (30 carriers, 22 chronic hepatitis, 13 cirrhosis), who were seronegative for HAV, received a dose of 1440 ELISA units of HAV vaccine at weeks 0 and 24. Twenty-eight healthy individuals aged 18-57 years, who were seronegative for both HBV and HAV infection, also received the same vaccination regimen. Seroconversion was defined as an anti-HAV titre >/= 33 mIU/mL.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The seroconversion rates for the HBV-infected patients at weeks 2, 4 and 24 were 72, 91 and 80%, respectively. The corresponding geometric mean titres (GMTs) were 103, 311 and 123 mIU/mL. In the healthy control group the seroconversion rates were 86, 93 and 89% at weeks 2, 4 and 24. The corresponding GMTs were 112, 158 and 250 mIU/mL. There was no difference in the seroconversion rates between the two groups, but healthy controls had a significantly higher GMT at week 24 (P=0.04). Side-effects were more common in HBV patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The HAV vaccine is equally efficacious in patients with chronic HBV infection.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Tsang
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Sung
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002353:Carrier State / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D017957:Hepatitis A Virus, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors; D015164:Vaccines, Inactivated / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D015164:Vaccines, Inactivated; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines