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Study of hepatitis B (HB) vaccine non‐responsiveness among health care workers from an endemic area (Taiwan)
Author(s) -
Yen YiHao,
Chen ChienHung,
Wang JingHoung,
Lee ChuanMo,
Changchien ChiSin,
Lu ShengNan
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
liver international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.873
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1478-3231
pISSN - 1478-3223
DOI - 10.1111/j.1478-3231.2005.01157.x
Subject(s) - medicine , hbsag , vaccination , hepatitis b virus , hepatitis b , hepatitis b vaccine , immunology , univariate analysis , multivariate analysis , serology , gastroenterology , antibody , virus
Objective: To evaluate the etiology of non‐responsiveness to hepatitis B (HB) vaccination in adults from an endemic area. Methods: A total of 250 subjects who were HBsAg negative and anti‐HBs<10 mIU/ml received three‐dose HB‐vaccine series. Anti‐HBs ‘negative’ was defined as a level<1.5 mIU/ml. ‘Weakly’ positive was defined as 1.5–10 mIU/ml at pre‐vaccination testing. Anti‐HBs response was defined as a level >10 mIU/ml at post‐vaccination testing. Among non‐responders who were anti‐HBc positive, serum anti‐HBe and hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA were tested. Results: Three variables were associated with non‐responsiveness by univariate analysis: anti‐HBc positive, male gender, and age >40 years. Multivariate analysis additionally showed that anti‐HBs negative was associated with non‐responsiveness. Among 23 non‐responders in anti‐HBc positive subjects, post‐vaccination serum was available in 16 subjects. HBV‐DNA in all subjects was under detectable level by PCR assay. Anti‐HBe positive were found in 13 of 16 subjects and were assumed to be occult HBV infection. Conclusion: Male gender, age >40 years and anti‐HBc positive are associated with non‐responsiveness to HB vaccination. Most of non‐responders among anti‐HBc positive subjects were assumed to be occult HBV infection. Subjects with weakly positive anti‐HBs were associated with responsiveness which may be the effect of immune memory.