Escalated regimen of hepatitis B vaccine in childhood hematological malignancies while on chemotherapy.
This prospective study was conducted to find the effective vaccination schedule against hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection for children with hematological malignancies. Sixty patients ages 2-15 years old with hematological malignancies on chemotherapy, negative for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and never vaccinated for HBV before, were vaccinated with 40 microg of vaccine at 0, 1 and 2 months. Antibody titers were measured 6 weeks after administration of last dose. Out of the 60 children enrolled, 5 died during the course of treatment and 4 dropped out before completion, leaving 51 for final analysis. More than 70% exhibited protective levels of antibodies (> 10 mIU/ml) against hepatitis B virus. There were no significant effects of age or sex on the antibody response, although antibodies were higher among girls (90.9%) than boys (65%). Patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were found to exhibit a better antibody response than leukemic children (p = 0.024). Children with hematological cancers should be vaccinated with an escalated regimen of the vaccine.
Ghosh
Nobokrishna
N
Department of Pediatrics, Institute of Child Health (ICH) and Shishu Sasthya Foundation Hospital, Mirpur, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Mannan
M A
MA
Monjur
Forhad
F
Rizwan
Farhana
F
Salim
A F M
AF
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000378:metabolism; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D007938:Leukemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology*; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male
D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines