title: Response to hepatitis A and B vaccination in patients with chronic hepatitis C: 8-year follow-up.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC), superinfection with hepatitis A (HAV) or B (HAB) viruses is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. The seroconversion rate of these patients following vaccination is considered to be lower than in healthy subjects.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the response to HAV and HBV vaccination in children with CHC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty patients with CHC aged from 7.3 to 18 years were compared with 50 healthy age-, gender- and body-mass-index-matched controls. Post-vaccination serological evaluation was performed 1 month after the last dose of primary vaccination, 1 month after the booster dose and once a year during follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-two patients received hepatitis A vaccine and response rate was 95.4%. Thirty patients received hepatitis B vaccine and 80% responded (hepatitis Bs titres ≥10 mIU/ml). Thirty-five controls received hepatitis A vaccine and protective anti-HAV antibodies developed in all. All of the controls were vaccinated against hepatitis B virus and 90% responded. After the whole vaccination series, overall seroprotection rates were 86% in patients and 96% in controls. No significant reduction in antibody response was observed in patients or controls during 8-years follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The rate of seroconversion to the HBV vaccine is lower in patients with CHC than in healthy controls but response to HAV is adequate.
authors: Department of Paediatrics, Sisli Etfal Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. deryakaly@hotmail.com
authors: Derya
authors: D
authors: Kalyoncu
authors: Nafiye
authors: N
authors: Urganci
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies; D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines