title: Immunogenicity of an accelerated vaccination regime with a combined hepatitis a/b vaccine in patients with chronic hepatitis C.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hepatitis A (HAV) and B (HBV) vaccinations are recommended in patients with chronic liver diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  We prospectively investigated immunogenicity and safety of an accelerated vaccination protocol (0-7-21 days) with the combined hepatitis A/B vaccine (Twinrix(R)) versus the standard vaccination scheme (0-1-6 months) in hepatitis C virus-infected patients versus healthy volunteers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Local and general symptoms were mostly mild in all groups. One month after completion of the accelerated vaccination or standard vaccination, with the combined hepatitis A/B vaccine anti-HAV seroconversion rates (>33 IU/l) were 89 % and 88 % in HCV-infected patients. Initial HCV-nonresponders developed protective anti-HAV antibodies in 94 % and 96 % after a booster dose. According to the anti-HBs seroprotection rate, HCV-infected patients developed protective anti-HBs titres (>10 IU/l) in 77 % and 82 % of cases one month after the accelerated and the standard vaccination scheme-at month 2 and 7, respectively. This anti-HBs seroprotection rate could even be increased to 84 % and 85 % when initial HCV-infected nonresponders where given a booster dose with the combined hepatitis A/B vaccine. Protective anti-HAV and anti-HBs titers were achieved as early as month 2 after the accelerated vaccination schedule in the majority of HCV-infected patients. Healthy subjects developed protective anti-HAV titers and anti-HBs titers in 100 % and 98 % after the accelerated and standard vaccination protocol.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study is the first to have demonstrated that the accelerated combined hepatitis A/B vaccination is both safe and highly immunogenic against HAV and HBV in HCV-infected patients with well compensated liver disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine IV, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany. birgit_kalinowski@med.uni-heidelberg.de
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kallinowski
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jilg
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Buchholz
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Stremmel
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Engler
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D007117:Immunization, Secondary; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017778:Vaccines, Combined
chemical_list: D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies; D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D017778:Vaccines, Combined; C433226:twinrix