title: Methadone-maintained former heroin addicts, including those who are anti-HIV-1 seropositive, comply with and respond to hepatitis B vaccination.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the efficacy of standard hepatitis B (HB) vaccination in methadone-maintained former intravenous drug users.
  
  
  METHODS
  HB vaccine was administered to subjects at 0, 1 and 6 months.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two university-affiliated methadone maintenance clinics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-three HB-unexposed former heroin addicts in methadone maintenance treatment for heroin addiction.
  
  
  METHODS
  HB surface antibody (anti-HBs) response to the vaccine was assessed at 0, 1, 6 and > or = 12 months; anti-HIV-1 status was also assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-seven patients (86%) completed the 6-month vaccination series. Of the 30 anti-HIV-1 seronegative patients who then completed the entire 12-month protocol, 21 (70%) seroconverted (anti-HBs ratio > 2.1) and 19 (63%) were protected (anti-HBs ratio > 10). Two other subjects were anti-HIV-1 seropositive: one was HB-protected at 12 months but later lost immunity. Ten anti-hepatitis C antibody-positive patients completed the 12-month study and six were protected; thus, there was no significant relationship between hepatitis C status and HB vaccine response.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Standard HB vaccination is both feasible and effective.
authors.affiliation: Rockefeller University, Laboratory on the Biology of Addictive Diseases, New York, NY 10021, USA. borgl@rockvax.rockefeller.edu
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Borg
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Khuri
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wells
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Melia
authors.forename: N V
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: Bergasa
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kreek
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009294:Narcotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D009294:Narcotics; D008691:Methadone