Long-Term Persistence of Immunity to Hepatitis B after Vaccination during Infancy in a Country Where Endemicity Is Low

[Guest guest]

J Infect Dis. 2004 Oct 1;190(7):1264-9. Epub 2004 Aug 27.

Long-Term Persistence of Immunity to Hepatitis B after Vaccination during

Infancy in a Country Where Endemicity Is Low.

Boxall EH, A Sira J, El-Shuhkri N, DA.

Health Protection Agency, West Midlands Public Health Laboratory, Heartlands

Hospital, Birmingham, United Kingdom.

elizabeth.boxall@....

Background. The long-term response to hepatitis B vaccination during infancy

has not been fully evaluated in countries where endemicity is low.Methods.

The present study was a serological investigation of immunity to hepatitis B

during adolescence. In a cohort of children who were born to hepatitis B

virus carrier mothers and who were vaccinated during infancy, evidence of

past or current infection and the response to a single booster dose of

vaccine were analyzed. Sixty-four children whose antibody levels were

measured after immunization (group 1) and 52 younger siblings who did not

undergo postvaccination antibody tests (group 2) were studied.Results. One

child in each group showed evidence of natural infection. In group 1, 32

children (50%) had undetectable antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen

(anti-HBs), and only 8 (13%) had levels >100 mIU/mL. After a booster dose of

vaccine, only 7 (11%) still had undetectable anti-HBs, 3 (5%) showed a

primary response, and 50 (78%) had levels >100 mIU/mL. Five of the 7 vaccine

nonresponders and all of the primary responders had also received hepatitis

B-specific immunoglobulin (HBIG) at birth. The children in group 2 showed a

similar response to the vaccine, but with slightly higher levels of

anti-HBs.Conclusions. Most children vaccinated at birth retain immunological

memory to hepatitis B vaccine for 15 years, but those who did not were more

likely to have received HBIG at birth, suggesting that passive antibody may

interfere with the induction of immunological memory.

PMID: 15346336 [PubMed - in process]

[Guest guest]

J Infect Dis. 2004 Oct 1;190(7):1264-9. Epub 2004 Aug 27.

Long-Term Persistence of Immunity to Hepatitis B after Vaccination during

Infancy in a Country Where Endemicity Is Low.

Boxall EH, A Sira J, El-Shuhkri N, DA.

Health Protection Agency, West Midlands Public Health Laboratory, Heartlands

Hospital, Birmingham, United Kingdom.

elizabeth.boxall@....

Background. The long-term response to hepatitis B vaccination during infancy

has not been fully evaluated in countries where endemicity is low.Methods.

The present study was a serological investigation of immunity to hepatitis B

during adolescence. In a cohort of children who were born to hepatitis B

virus carrier mothers and who were vaccinated during infancy, evidence of

past or current infection and the response to a single booster dose of

vaccine were analyzed. Sixty-four children whose antibody levels were

measured after immunization (group 1) and 52 younger siblings who did not

undergo postvaccination antibody tests (group 2) were studied.Results. One

child in each group showed evidence of natural infection. In group 1, 32

children (50%) had undetectable antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen

(anti-HBs), and only 8 (13%) had levels >100 mIU/mL. After a booster dose of

vaccine, only 7 (11%) still had undetectable anti-HBs, 3 (5%) showed a

primary response, and 50 (78%) had levels >100 mIU/mL. Five of the 7 vaccine

nonresponders and all of the primary responders had also received hepatitis

B-specific immunoglobulin (HBIG) at birth. The children in group 2 showed a

similar response to the vaccine, but with slightly higher levels of

anti-HBs.Conclusions. Most children vaccinated at birth retain immunological

memory to hepatitis B vaccine for 15 years, but those who did not were more

likely to have received HBIG at birth, suggesting that passive antibody may

interfere with the induction of immunological memory.

PMID: 15346336 [PubMed - in process]

[Guest guest]

J Infect Dis. 2004 Oct 1;190(7):1264-9. Epub 2004 Aug 27.

Long-Term Persistence of Immunity to Hepatitis B after Vaccination during

Infancy in a Country Where Endemicity Is Low.

Boxall EH, A Sira J, El-Shuhkri N, DA.

Health Protection Agency, West Midlands Public Health Laboratory, Heartlands

Hospital, Birmingham, United Kingdom.

elizabeth.boxall@....

Background. The long-term response to hepatitis B vaccination during infancy

has not been fully evaluated in countries where endemicity is low.Methods.

The present study was a serological investigation of immunity to hepatitis B

during adolescence. In a cohort of children who were born to hepatitis B

virus carrier mothers and who were vaccinated during infancy, evidence of

past or current infection and the response to a single booster dose of

vaccine were analyzed. Sixty-four children whose antibody levels were

measured after immunization (group 1) and 52 younger siblings who did not

undergo postvaccination antibody tests (group 2) were studied.Results. One

child in each group showed evidence of natural infection. In group 1, 32

children (50%) had undetectable antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen

(anti-HBs), and only 8 (13%) had levels >100 mIU/mL. After a booster dose of

vaccine, only 7 (11%) still had undetectable anti-HBs, 3 (5%) showed a

primary response, and 50 (78%) had levels >100 mIU/mL. Five of the 7 vaccine

nonresponders and all of the primary responders had also received hepatitis

B-specific immunoglobulin (HBIG) at birth. The children in group 2 showed a

similar response to the vaccine, but with slightly higher levels of

anti-HBs.Conclusions. Most children vaccinated at birth retain immunological

memory to hepatitis B vaccine for 15 years, but those who did not were more

likely to have received HBIG at birth, suggesting that passive antibody may

interfere with the induction of immunological memory.

PMID: 15346336 [PubMed - in process]

[Guest guest]

J Infect Dis. 2004 Oct 1;190(7):1264-9. Epub 2004 Aug 27.

Long-Term Persistence of Immunity to Hepatitis B after Vaccination during

Infancy in a Country Where Endemicity Is Low.

Boxall EH, A Sira J, El-Shuhkri N, DA.

Health Protection Agency, West Midlands Public Health Laboratory, Heartlands

Hospital, Birmingham, United Kingdom.

elizabeth.boxall@....

Background. The long-term response to hepatitis B vaccination during infancy

has not been fully evaluated in countries where endemicity is low.Methods.

The present study was a serological investigation of immunity to hepatitis B

during adolescence. In a cohort of children who were born to hepatitis B

virus carrier mothers and who were vaccinated during infancy, evidence of

past or current infection and the response to a single booster dose of

vaccine were analyzed. Sixty-four children whose antibody levels were

measured after immunization (group 1) and 52 younger siblings who did not

undergo postvaccination antibody tests (group 2) were studied.Results. One

child in each group showed evidence of natural infection. In group 1, 32

children (50%) had undetectable antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen

(anti-HBs), and only 8 (13%) had levels >100 mIU/mL. After a booster dose of

vaccine, only 7 (11%) still had undetectable anti-HBs, 3 (5%) showed a

primary response, and 50 (78%) had levels >100 mIU/mL. Five of the 7 vaccine

nonresponders and all of the primary responders had also received hepatitis

B-specific immunoglobulin (HBIG) at birth. The children in group 2 showed a

similar response to the vaccine, but with slightly higher levels of

anti-HBs.Conclusions. Most children vaccinated at birth retain immunological

memory to hepatitis B vaccine for 15 years, but those who did not were more

likely to have received HBIG at birth, suggesting that passive antibody may

interfere with the induction of immunological memory.

PMID: 15346336 [PubMed - in process]