Successful hepatitis B vaccination in patients who underwent transplantation for hepatitis B virus-related cirrhosis: preliminary results.
Long-term hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIg) prophylaxis prevents endogenous hepatitis B virus (HBV) reinfection in the majority of liver transplant recipients. Active hepatitis B vaccination after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) in these patients has produced conflicting results to date. On this study, patients who remained hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) negative with passive immunization after OLT for HBV cirrhosis were actively immunized using recombinant HBV antigen (Engerix), together with a novel adjuvant system (monophosphoryl lipid A and a natural saponine molecule). This led to a sustained antibody response to HBsAg (>500 IU/L) in 5 of 10 patients. This antibody response prevented reinfection and allowed termination of prophylactic HBIg substitution for more than 12 months in these patients.
Bienzle
Ulrich
U
Institute of Tropical Medicine, Virchow-Clinic, Charité, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany. ulrich.bienzle@charite.de
Günther
Matthias
M
Neuhaus
Ruth
R
Neuhaus
Peter
P
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000917:Antibody Formation; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000601:surgery* / Q000821:virology*; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; C075654:Engerix-B; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic