Open AccessHepatitis B virus vaccine switch program for prevention of de novo hepatitis B virus infection in pediatric patients
Author(s) -
Park Jae Berm,
Kwon Choon Hyuck David,
Lee KwangWoong,
Choi GyuSeong,
Kim DooJin,
Seo JeongMin,
Kim SungJoo,
Joh JaeWon,
Lee SukKoo
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
transplant international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.998
H-Index - 82
eISSN - 1432-2277
pISSN - 0934-0874
DOI - 10.1111/j.1432-2277.2007.00618.x
Subject(s) - medicine , hepatitis b virus , titer , hepatitis b vaccine , liver transplantation , hepatitis b , vaccination , virology , transplantation , antibody , immunology , virus , hbsag
Summary The principal objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccine switch program after 1‐year Hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) for the prevention of de novo HBV (DNHBV) infection in pediatric recipients of hepatitis B core antibody (anti‐HBc)‐positive grafts. In this study, we enrolled pediatric recipients ( n = 14), who had undergone living donor liver transplantation with anti‐HBc‐positive grafts between July 2000 and July 2005 and were followed up for over 24 months after transplantation. HBIG was given daily during the first week and intermittently in order to maintain anti‐hepatitis B surface antigen (anti‐HBs) titers greater than 200 IU/l until 12 months post‐transplantation. Then the HBV vaccine was given intermittently as a substitute for HBIG when anti‐HBs titer fell below 200 IU/l. The median follow‐up duration after vaccination was 26.5 months, and a median of 2.03 doses of vaccine per year was required for the maintenance of anti‐HBs titers greater than at least 100 IU/l. Two of the patients did not start the HBV vaccine due to sustained high anti‐HBs titer. Eleven completed the HBV switch, whereas 1 was ongoing. With the HBV vaccine switch program, anti‐HBs titers greater than 100 IU/l could be maintained conveniently and effectively.