title: Immunogenicity of a recombinant hepatitis B vaccine (Euvax-B) in haemodialysis patients and staff.
abstract: Hepatitis B vaccine is the most effective strategy for preventing the transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in haemodialysis centers. Nevertheless, lower vaccine responses have been reported in haemodialysis patients as compared with healthy subjects. This study examines the response to Euvax-B in Brazilian haemodialysis patients and staff. A total of 102 eligible patients (n = 42) and staff members (n = 60) consented to be studied. Patients were immunized intramuscularly with four doses of 40 microg of Euvax-B vaccine at 0, 1, 2 and 6 months. In staff members, the vaccine was administered in three doses of 20 microg at 0, 1, and 6 months. Post-vaccine samples were taken from all subjects I month after each dose. The vaccine response was determined by measuring antibody to the hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) levels using ELISA. Subjects with anti-HBs titres equal to or higher than 10 UI/L were considered immune protected. Of the haemodialysis patients who received four doses of hepatitis B vaccine, 89.5% responded to Euvax-B vaccine. The geometric mean of anti-HBs titres was 322.8 IU/L (95% CI: 317.7-328). Among staff members, 93.3% reached anti-HBs protective titres after the third vaccine dose. The geometric mean of anti-HBs titres was 2,209 IU/L (Cl: 2,198-2,219). Age, male gender and body mass index were not associated with vaccine response in either group. This study showed a good immunogenicity response to Euvax-B in haemodialysis patients and staff.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Nursing, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil.
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Tele
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: dos Santos Carneiro
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.forename: C F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Yoshida
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007125:Immunogenetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000451:nursing; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic