title: A nine-year experience of immunoprophylaxis against hepatitis B virus infection in children with cancer: results from a single institution in Poland.
abstract: The results of a nine-year study of immunoprophylaxis against HBV infection in children with cancer during anticancer therapy are presented. Three hundred and fifty-three children entered the study. The preventive strategy involved three different patterns of passive and active prophylaxis. Specific anti-HBV immunoprophylaxis introduced simultaneously with anticancer therapy resulted in protection of 95.2% of children; 62% of patients produced antibodies. Long-term follow-up confirmed stable protection. Better results were obtained in children who received the last dose of vaccine after chemotherapy. The overall infection rate was 5.4% (19/353). Thirteen (68.4%) of the 19 infections occurred in patients who had not received hepatitis B immunoglobulin at the beginning of anticancer therapy. Children vaccinated before chemotherapy (during a neonatal vaccination programme) showed continuous protection after one dose of vaccine in 94% cases. In three cases, both HBsAg and anti-HBs was observed. A preventive strategy for viral hepatitis in children with cancer that includes passive and active HBV immunoprophylaxis from the beginning of chemotherapy is effective.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, Medical University, Bydgoszcz, Poland. jan_styczynski@kki.net.pl
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Styczynski
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wysocki
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Koltan
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kurylak
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006801:Humans; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*; D011044:Poland
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D007136:Immunoglobulins; C045213:hepatitis B hyperimmune globulin