Ten-year antibody persistence induced by hepatitis A and B vaccine (Twinrix) in adults.
BACKGROUND
Hepatitis A and B infections are prevalent worldwide and cause significant morbidity and mortality. A combined vaccine providing dual protection against hepatitis A and B is available (Twinrix, GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals).


METHODS
Two cohorts of adults aged 17-43 years were vaccinated with Twinrix according to a 0, 1, 6 months schedule and followed up for 10 years.


RESULTS
One month after the primary vaccination course (Month 7), all subjects were seropositive for anti-HAV and all had anti-HBs> or = 10 mIU/ml. At month 120, 100% of subjects (N=34; N=29) in both cohorts were seropositive for anti-HAV; 94.1% and 86.2% of subjects had anti-HBs > or = 10 mIU/ml. The geometric mean concentrations (GMC; mIU/ml) were 373.9 and 674.6 in the two cohorts for anti-HAV, and 103.8 and 320.0, respectively, for anti-HBs. None of the serious adverse events reported throughout the follow-up period were considered by the investigator to be causally related to vaccination.


CONCLUSIONS
Combined hepatitis A and B vaccine, Twinrix, is safe, well-tolerated and has demonstrated a highly immunogenic profile. Persistence of anti-HAV and anti-HBs antibodies in adults remains high for at least 10 years after primary vaccination.
Van Herck
K
K
Centre for the Evaluation of Vaccination, WHO Collaborating Centre for Prevention and Control of Viral Hepatitis, Unit of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, University of Antwerp - Campus Drie Eiken, Wilrijk, Belgium. koen.vanherck@ua.ac.be
Leroux-Roels
G
G
Van Damme
P
P
Srinivasa
K
K
Hoet
B
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control*; D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014195:Travel; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014611:Vaccination; D017778:Vaccines, Combined / Q000276:immunology*
D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D017778:Vaccines, Combined; C433226:twinrix