Isolated antibody to hepatitis B core antigen in HIV-1 infected patients and a pilot study of vaccination to determine the anamnestic response.
BACKGROUND
Isolated antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) is frequently found in HIV-infected patients. The present study aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors of isolated anti-HBc and the anamnestic response to hepatitis B vaccination in this population.


METHODS
HIV-infected patients who visited Ramathibodi Hospital in May 2006 were included to test hepatitis B serology. Subjects with isolated anti-HBc were given hepatitis B vaccine and tested for anti-HBs.


RESULTS
Of 140 patients, 28 (20%) had isolated anti-HBc. From multivariate analysis, IVDU (OR 30.8, p < 0.001) and anti-HCV seropositive (OR 6.7, p = 0.002) were independent risk factors for isolated anti-HBc. Two from 28 (7%) patients who received vaccine had a response to vaccination.


CONCLUSIONS
Prevalence of isolated anti-HBc among Thai HIV-infected patients was 20%. Risk factors of isolated anti-HBc were IVDU and anti-HCV seropositive. Anamnestic response to hepatitis B vaccination was low. Further study with strategies to improve the response of vaccination is needed.
Jongjirawisan
Yongyuth
Y
Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Ungulkraiwit
Prayut
P
Sungkanuparph
Somnuek
S
D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012307:Risk Factors; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology
D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines