[Humoral immunity level and factors associated with the response to the vaccine against the hepatitis B virus in health personnel of the Case-Essalud National Hospital, Arequipa September 1995-March 2002].
The serum levels of antibodies against the Hepatitis B virus, in employees of the Case-Essalud National Hospital of Arequipa, who have been vaccinated, were determined in order to evaluate the immunoresponse that the vaccination produces in them and the factors that may be involved in the said response. In this way the protection level that is being achieved may be known.


METHODS
The study was carried out on 165 health employees of the Case-Essalud National Hospital of Arequipa who were administered the recombinant vaccination against the Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), via intramuscular injection in the deltoid region, applying the rapid scheme 0, 1, 2 months. A 1 ml (30 microg of antigen) dose was administered. The serum concentrations of anti-HBs (in mUI/ml) were found in the third month of the third dose, by the enzyme immunoassay method, AXSYM System of Abbot Laboratories. In accordance with the facts established, seroprotection levels were defined to be serum concentrations of anti-HBsAg antibodies greater than 10 mUI/ml.


RESULTS
The results evidenced that the vaccine applied to the employees being studied, produced seroprotection levels >10 mUI/ml in 94.54% of the employees. Besides, a lesser seroprotection response (p>0.01) was seen in male employees, in those older than 40 years of age, in those with high TGP levels and in tobacco consumers. Whereas, no significant relation (p>0.05) was observed between the immunogenic response and the pathological history of the employees vaccinated.


CONCLUSIONS
It may be concluded that the recombinant vaccine against the Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) produces an adequate measure of protection in a significant percentage of employees in Peru and that the response is significantly lesser in male employees, in those older than 40 years of age, in those with high TGP levels and in tobacco consumers.
Campos Nizama
Juan
J
Area de Gastroenterología, HNCASE-EsSALUD.
D000328:Adult; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000517:prevention & control; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology*; D006779:Hospitals, Public / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D009790:Occupations; D010564:Personnel, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010568:Peru; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012907:Smoking / Q000276:immunology; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology
D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic