title: Long-term anti-HBs antibody persistence and immune memory in children and adolescents who received routine childhood hepatitis B vaccination.
abstract: This paper presents data from two studies that evaluated 5-y and 10-y persistence of antibodies against hepatitis B (HBV) surface antigen (anti-HBs) and immune response to an HBV vaccine challenge in children and adolescents who had received three doses of a HBV vaccine in infancy as part of routine clinical practice [NCT00519649/NCT00984139]. Anti-HBs antibody concentrations ≥ 10 mIU/ml persisted in 83.3% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 78.5–87.5) and 78.3% (95% CI: 73.1–83.0) of subjects aged 7–8 y and 12–13 y, respectively 5–10 y after infant vaccination. One month postchallenge dose, 98.2% (95% CI: 95.9–99.4) and 93.7% (95% CI: 90.2–96.2) of subjects in the two age groups, respectively had anti-HBs antibody concentrations ≥ 100 mIU/ml. Overall, 99.6% (95% CI: 98–100) and 97.2% (95% CI: 94.5–98.8) of subjects aged 7–8 y and 12–13 y mounted an anamnestic response to the HBV challenge dose, which was well-tolerated. Healthy children aged 7–8 y and adolescents aged 12–13 y received three doses of a monovalent pediatric HBV vaccine (10 μg of HBsAg) before 18 mo of age. Serum samples collected before and one month post-HBV vaccine challenge dose were tested for anti-HBs antibody concentrations. Safety assessments were made for the HBV vaccine challenge dose. A three-dose childhood HBV immunization regimen induced persistence of antibodies against HBV infection for 10 y, up to adolescence. This vaccination regimen also conferred long-term immune memory against HBV as evidenced by the strong anamnestic response to the HBV vaccine challenge, despite waning anti-HBs antibody levels.
authors.affiliation: GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals, Bangalore, India.
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Behre
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bleckmann
authors.forename: Priya Diana
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Crasta
authors.forename: Maarten
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leyssen
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Messier
authors.forename: Jeanne-Marie
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Jacquet
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hardt
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000276:immunology; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014611:Vaccination / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines