Address of Corresponding Author

Nephron Clin Pract 2006;103:c89-c93 (DOI: 10.1159/000092016)

  Key Words

• Hepatitis B
• End-stage renal disease
• Dialysis
• Hepatitis B vaccination, risk factors
• Recombinant hepatitis B vaccine
• Protective antibody
• Seroprotective level of anti-HBs
• Engerix-B vaccine

  Abstract

Background: This retrospective and comparative study evaluated the relationship between different factors which may contribute to suboptimal immunological response to intramuscular recombinant hepatitis B vaccine in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) subjects. Methods: From a cohort of 64 dialysis subjects undergoing primary vaccination with Engerix-B^®, we determined the predictive factors that impinged on patients' response to vaccine, as defined by anti-HBs level 10 mIU/l. Dose efficacy was further evaluated by comparing three historical cohorts vaccinated by the regimens of 20, 40 and 80 µg/dose, respectively. Results: We identified 64 ESRD patients (mean age 43 ± 12 years, 81% receiving peritoneal dialysis) who received primary vaccination from April 1997 to September 2004. Median follow-up was 6.5 years. They achieved 81% seroconversion rate. Older age, diabetes mellitus, obesity and low Engerix-B dose were risk factors of inadequate anti-HBs response by univariate analysis. By stepwise logistic regression analysis, hepatitis B vaccine dose was the only independent predictive factor of impaired antibody response. An Engerix-B vaccine dose of 20 µg was associated with more than tenfold increase in risk of non-response to hepatitis B vaccine (hazards ratio 32.2 (95% CI 3.85-250.0)). Immunization with 80 µg of Engerix-B increased the likelihood of persistent protective antibody (log-rank test, p = 0.014). Immunization with Engerix-B 80-µg dose is estimated to prevent one extra ESRD subject who would lose seroprotective anti-HBs level at 1 year for every 5.6 patients treated (number needed to treat to benefit, 5.6 (95% CI 5.4-5.8)). Conclusions: Our results suggest the potential for the three-dose schedule of recombinant vaccine Engerix-B 80 µg to prolong the immune response among ESRD population.

Copyright © 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Dr. K.M. Chow
Department of Medicine and Therapeutics
Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Shatin, Hong Kong, SAR (China)
Tel. +86 852 26323131, Fax +86 852 26375396, E-Mail Chow_Kai_Ming@alumni.cuhk.net

  Article Information

Received: July 18, 2005
Accepted: October 14, 2005
Published online: March 13, 2006
Number of Print Pages : 5
Number of Figures : 1, Number of Tables : 2, Number of References : 25