A preliminary experiment of absorption of antinuclear antibodies by the hepatitis B vaccine components, in a case of neurolupus.
The aim of this work is to propose a method to search for a possible antigenic community between hepatitis B vaccine components and some auto-antibodies produced in rare patients with an autoimmune disease discovered few weeks or months after a hepatitis B vaccine injection. A 12-year-old girl showed symptoms of transverse myelitis 2 months after a hepatitis B vaccine booster injection. Later, high titers of antinuclear antibodies were found and a diagnosis of neurolupus was established. One serum was then mixed with various concentrations of hepatitis B vaccine. The antinuclear antibodies were totally absorbed at the highest concentration of vaccine, but not by the lowest. Anti-HBs specific antibodies were absorbed by all concentrations of vaccine. The results of this single preliminary experiment (which as to be repeated for other patients, and with large control studies) cannot establish a cross relationship. But it seems that this approach requires to be explored with some improvements. It could also incite us to use lower dosages of HBs antigen in the vaccine and to use the subcutaneous route of injection (to get lower titers of antibodies and to allow a slower diffusion of the antigen).
Department of Industrial and Preventive Medicine, C.I.M.O.T., 4-10 Rue Albert Thomas, 59210 Coudekerque-Branche, France.
Jean
J
Poirriez
D000042:Absorption; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000209:etiology*
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines