Immunogenicity, reactogenicity and adherence to a combined hepatitis A and B vaccine in illicit drug users

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Addiction

Published on behalf of the Society for the Study of Addiction

Edited by:

Griffith

Print ISSN: 0965-2140

Online ISSN: 1360-0443

Frequency: Monthly

Current Volume: 99

ISI Journal Citation Reports® Ranking: 2003: 1/9 (Substance Abuse); 19/88

(Psychiatry)

Impact Factor: 3.241

Volume 99: Issue 12

Immunogenicity, reactogenicity and adherence to a combined hepatitis A and B

vaccine in illicit drug users

Fabio Lugoboni

GianLuca Quaglio

Benedetta Pajusco

Paolo Civitelli

a Romanò

Carlo Bossi

Irene Spilimbergo

Paolo Mezzelani

Abstract

Aims

The use of illegal drugs is associated with an increase in infective risk

for the hepatitis viruses, against which the vaccination of drug users (DUs)

is recommended unanimously. The aim of the study was to determine

tolerability, adherence and immune response of a combined vaccine providing

dual protection against hepatitis A virus (HAV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV).

Methods

The vaccine was administered to 38 DU, attending three public health centres

for drug users in northern Italy, with a three-dose schedule (at 0, 1 and 6

months). The vaccine was well tolerated: only one adverse reaction (fever)

was recorded after the 110 doses administered (0.9%). The vaccine schedule

was completed successfully in 35 cases (92.1%). At month 8, in 34 subjects

(89.5%) antibody response was evaluated: all showed seroprotection for HAV

and in 33 subjects (97.1%) for HBV.

Conclusions

The vaccine, studied for the first time in DUs, proved to be safe, well

accepted and immunogenic; anti-HAV response was 1272 mIU/ml and 1726 mIU/ml

for anti-HBV, titres lower than reported in literature for the general

population. This study suggests that DUs who are HAV/HBV-negative could be

vaccinated with combined vaccine.