[Hepatitis B serological markers in children adopted from Russia and Ukraine].
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and to verify the immunization status against HBV of children adopted from Russia and Ukraine.


METHODS
Cohort study of 102 children (58.8% boys) adopted from Russia (90) and Ukraine (12) between 2002 and 2007. All children had medical records that certified they had received 3 doses of HBV vaccine from the birth country. They were evaluated within 2 weeks of their arrival (mean age of 28.3 months; range, 12 to 88 months) according to a standard protocol that includes the hepatitis B serological markers, surface antigen (HBsAg), core antibody (HBcAb), and surface antibody (HBsAb).


RESULTS
All children were negative for HBsAg and HBcAb (prevalence of active or previous HBV infection, 0%), and 78 (76.5%) showed a protective antibody response (HBsAb>or=10 mIU/ml) due to HBV vaccination. The results are contrasted with those observed by other researchers.


CONCLUSIONS
We show that children adopted from Russia and Ukraine have a relatively high prevalence of protective immunity due to effective HBV vaccination. Therefore, we recommended determining the 3 serological markers for HBV (HBsAg, HBcAb, and HBsAb). Using this, we may detect an active infection or other infection risks, and we know the immunization status. Thus we can assess the need for retest, and provide criteria for individualized vaccinations, which could avoid generalized HBV vaccination in this specific population of internationally adopted children.
Oliván Gonzalvo
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Centro de Pediatría y Adopción Internacional, Zaragoza, Spain. g.olivan@comz.org
D000300:Adoption; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012426:Russia / Q000208:ethnology; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D014455:Ukraine / Q000208:ethnology
D015415:Biomarkers