Ten-year serological follow up of hepatitis B vaccine recipients.
OBJECTIVE
To determine long-term persistence of antibodies to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) after vaccination against hepatitis B.


METHODS
Thirty-four laboratory workers received hepatitis B vaccine in 1989 in a 0-1-6 month vaccination schedule. Group A (n = 16) received a booster at 3 years after vaccination whereas Group B (n = 18) did not. Anti-HBs was quantitated at 1 month and 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 and 8 years post-vaccination.


RESULTS
At eight-year follow up, 10 of 15 subjects in Group A and 3 of 16 in Group B had protective levels of anti-HBs; in addition, two and four subjects, respectively, had detectable anti-HBs though below protective levels. At ten years, 9/15 and 3/16 were anti-HBs positive in Groups A and B, respectively. One subject in each group had rise in anti-HBs titer at 6-year follow up but both of them tested negative for IgG antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc). A booster dose at 10 years to anti-HBs negative subjects led to an anamestic response in 3/4 and 8/10 persons in Groups A and B, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Immunological memory after vaccination against hepatitis B is maintained for at least 10 years.
Chadha
M S
MS
National Institute of Virology, Pune.
Arankalle
V A
VA
D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D017056:Medical Laboratory Personnel; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013997:Time Factors
D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines