title: Decreased immunogenicity of recombinant hepatitis B vaccine in chronic hepatitis C.
abstract: The immunogenicity of hepatitis B vaccine is unknown for patients with chronic hepatitis C, although hepatitis B vaccination is highly recommended in these patients. We therefore studied in a prospective open trial of 59 patients with chronic hepatitis C (mean age 42 years, hepatitis C for >10 years, Child-Pugh score < or = 5) and 58 healthy hospital staff persons the rate of nonresponse (anti-HBs <10 mIU/mL at 9 months) to recombinant hepatitis B vaccine (Gen H-B-Vax(R),10 microg intradeltoidal at month 0, 1, and 6). Nonresponse was observed in 18/59 (31%) patients with chronic hepatitis C and 5/58 (9%) healthy staff persons (P <.005) (vs. 7% in historical controls; P <.005), low response (anti-HBs 10-99 mIU/mL) in 19% of patients with chronic hepatitis C and 17% of staff persons. High-dose booster vaccination led to seroconversion in 12/15 (80%) of primary nonresponders. Primary nonresponse to HB vaccine was related neither to presence of early-stage liver cirrhosis nor magnitude of serum hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA concentration, nor explained by the presence of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) types (B8 DR3, B44, DR7, DQ2) predisposing to low antibody response to hepatitis B surface antigen. The rate of primary nonresponse to the standard regimen of recombinant hepatitis B vaccine is surprisingly high in patients with longstanding chronic hepatitis C. Therefore, the antibody to HBV surface antigen (anti-HBs) titer response should be determined in these patients. Depending on the response titer, higher booster doses may be required to achieve and maintain seroprotection in these patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine II, University of Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wiedmann
authors.forename: U G
authors.initials: UG
authors.lastname: Liebert
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Oesen
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Porst
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wiese
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schroeder
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Halm
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mössner
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Berr
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000517:prevention & control; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014611:Vaccination; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic