title: Hepatitis B vaccine in infants: a randomized controlled trial comparing gluteal versus anterolateral thigh muscle administration.
abstract: A significantly diminished antibody response to hepatitis B vaccine has been demonstrated in adults when the buttock is used as the injection site. However, in Brazil, the buttock continues to be recommended as site of injection for intramuscular administration of vaccines in infants. In this age group, there are no controlled studies evaluating the immunogenicity of the hepatitis B vaccine when administered at this site. In the present study, 258 infants were randomized to receive the hepatitis B vaccine either in the buttock (n = 123) or in the anterolateral thigh muscle (n = 135). The immunization schedule consisted of three doses of hepatitis B vaccine (Engerix Bregister mark or target, 10 microg) at 2, 4 and 9 months of age. There were no significant differences in the proportion of seroconversion (99.3% x 99.2%), or in the geometric mean titer of ELISA anti-HBs (1,862.1 x 1,229.0 mIU/mL) between the two groups. This study demonstrates that a satisfactory serological response can be obtained when the hepatitis B vaccine is administered intramuscularly into the buttock.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Virology, Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo, Department of Infectious Diseases, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Nascimento
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Granato
authors.forename: H K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Morgato
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Pannuti
mesh_terms: D002081:Buttocks; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D007223:Infant; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular / Q000379:methods*; D013848:Thigh
chemical_list: D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines