Long term persistence of anti-HBs protective levels in young patients with type 1 diabetes after recombinant hepatitis B vaccine.
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the persistence of anti-hepatitis B protective levels in young patients with type 1 diabetes, successfully immunised with a recombinant hepatitis B vaccine. We re-evaluated, after a 4 year follow-up, 54 patients and 70 age and sex-matched healthy subjects. Protective antibodies levels were found in 50/54 (92%) patients and in 67/70 (96%) controls. Moreover, anti-HBs levels were similar in diabetic patients and controls (means of log-titre and (sd); 1.95 (0.88) and 2.18 (0.64) patients and controls, respectively; P=0.11). No cases of clinical hepatitis were reported and all patients and controls remained HBc negative. These data demonstrate the persistence of anti-HBs levels in children, adolescents and young patients with type 1 diabetes after recombinant hepatitis B vaccine showing evidence of longterm immunogenity and protective effect.
Marseglia
G
G
Department of Pediatrics, University of Pavia, IRCCS Policlinico S. Matteo, P.le Golgi 2, 27100, Pavia, Italy. gl.marseglia@smatteo.pv.it
Alibrandi
A
A
d'Annunzio
G
G
Gulminetti
R
R
Avanzini
M A
MA
Marconi
M
M
Tinelli
C
C
Lorini
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013997:Time Factors; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000494:pharmacology*
D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; C075655:Recombivax HB; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic