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Successful hepatitis B vaccination in patients who underwent transplantation for hepatitis B virus–related cirrhosis: Preliminary results
Author(s) -
Bienzle Ulrich,
Günther Matthias,
Neuhaus Ruth,
Neuhaus Peter
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
liver transplantation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.814
H-Index - 150
eISSN - 1527-6473
pISSN - 1527-6465
DOI - 10.1053/jlts.2002.33699
Subject(s) - medicine , hbsag , hepatitis b virus , vaccination , cirrhosis , immunology , immunization , hepatitis b , liver transplantation , antibody , adjuvant , virology , orthohepadnavirus , transplantation , gastroenterology , virus
Long‐term hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIg) prophylaxis prevents endogenous hepatitis B virus (HBV) reinfection in the majority of liver transplant recipients. Active hepatitis B vaccination after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) in these patients has produced conflicting results to date. On this study, patients who remained hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) negative with passive immunization after OLT for HBV cirrhosis were actively immunized using recombinant HBV antigen (Engerix), together with a novel adjuvant system (monophosphoryl lipid A and a natural saponine molecule). This led to a sustained antibody response to HBsAg (>500 IU/L) in 5 of 10 patients. This antibody response prevented reinfection and allowed termination of prophylactic HBIg substitution for more than 12 months in these patients.