title: Immunogenicity of combined hepatitis A and B vaccine in elderly persons.
abstract: More and more elderly people travel to areas where hepatitis A and B are endemic. Their immune system is less effective than in young persons. Therefore, it has to be insured that these travelers have protective immunity after vaccination. In a retrospective study we measured anti hepatitis virus (anti-HAV) and anti-HBs in elderly persons (N = 104, mean age 54 years) after combined hepatitis A/B vaccination under every-day conditions. After complete vaccination only 36 (34.6%) had antibodies against both viruses. Only 23 (29%) of 80 vaccinees older than 40 years were protected against hepatitis B and 52 (65%) against hepatitis A. The response to the vaccination decreased with increasing age. Vaccination against hepatitis B-but not against hepatitis A-was also influenced by the presence of chronic disease. After one booster 87% of the anti-HAV negative vaccinees developed protective anti-HAV antibodies. Anti-HBs can be expected in about 50% of the HBV negative vaccinees with every single booster. These results indicate that combined hepatitis A/B vaccination is not very effective in elderly persons. After complete vaccination their anti-HAV and anti-HBs antibodies have to be controlled to insure protection. In case of vaccination-failure boosters are very effective.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Virology, University of Essen, 45122 Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wolters
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Junge
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dziuba
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roggendorf
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged / Q000502:physiology*; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D007117:Immunization, Secondary; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017778:Vaccines, Combined / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies; D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D017778:Vaccines, Combined