title: [The assessment of efficacy of hepatitis B prophylaxis in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia].
abstract: The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of hepatitis B prophylaxis in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and to try to determine the optimal procedure of protection against the infection. The retrospective analysis included 229 patients with ALL divided into three groups depending on the type of anti-HBV prophylaxis. The group 1 (1990-91, 38 patients) received only sporadically passive prophylaxis, in the group 2 (1992-94, 55 patients) passive prophylaxis was regular, and the patients of the group 3 (1995-2001, 138 children) received complete active and passive prophylaxis. Among vaccinated children three subgroups were additionally distinguished: subgroup a--vaccination was completed before the disease, subgroup b--the cycle of vaccination began before and continued during the therapy, subgroup c--the whole cycle of vaccination was performed during the ALL treatment. The efficacy of the prophylaxis was evaluated taking into account the incidence of hepatitis B and the level of anti-HBs antibodies in vaccinated children. Additionally the incidence of hepatitis C was assessed to evaluate the role of unspecific prophylaxis. The incidence of hepatitis B in the group 1, 2, and 3 was: 57.9%, 23.6%, and 0.76%, respectively, and the incidence of hepatitis C: 44.7%, 36.4%, and 5.9%, respectively. The percent of the failure of active prophylaxis in the subgroup a, b, and c was: 29%, 53%, and 93%, respectively. In spite of the reduction of exposure to the infection (unspecific prophylaxis), the role of specific prophylaxis is essential. The program of passive and active prophylaxis used by us is efficient in preventing hepatitis B in children with ALL. However, during the intensive chemotherapy only passive prophylaxis should be used with postponement of the vaccination because of very low response to the vaccination applied in this phase of treatment. Regular control of anti-HBs antibodies' level is essential in all patients with leukemia even in those with initially high level of antibodies.
authors.affiliation: Klinika Onkologii i Hematologii Dzieciecej, Polsko-Amerykariski, Instytut Pediatrii Collegium Medicum, Uniwerytetu Jagiellorskiego w Krakowie.
authors.forename: Angelina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moryl-Bujakowska
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Czogała
authors.forename: Wojciech
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Czogała
authors.forename: Walentyna
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Balwierz
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007116:Immunization, Passive / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011044:Poland; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines