Efficacy of accelerated hepatitis B vaccination program in patients being actively treated for hematologic malignancies

• Published in: International journal of infectious diseases 2008-03, Vol.12 (2), p.166-170
• Main Authors: Pullukcu, Husnu, Ertem, Ekin, Karaca, Yildiray, Yamazhan, Tansu, Sertoz, Ruchan Yazan, Altuglu, İmre
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Accelerated HBV vaccination; Adolescent; Adult; Age Distribution; Aged; Antineoplastic Agents - therapeutic use; Female; Hematologic Neoplasms - complications; Hematologic Neoplasms - drug therapy; Hepatitis B - immunology; Hepatitis B - prevention & control; Hepatitis B Antibodies - blood; Hepatitis B Antigens - blood; Hepatitis B Vaccines - administration & dosage; Hepatitis B Vaccines - standards; Humans; Immunization Schedule; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Infectious Disease; Leukemia; Lymphoma; Male; Middle Aged; Protection; Pulmonary/Respiratory; Sex Distribution; Vaccination - methods; Vaccination - standards
• ISSN: 1201-9712; 1878-3511
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2007.06.004

Summary Background The goal of this study was to conduct an accelerated vaccination program and to determine its efficacy in patients susceptible to hepatitis B virus (HBV) receiving chemotherapy because of their hematologic malignancies. Methods Over a one-year period, a total of 327 patients who were diagnosed as having a hematologic malignancy were serologically analyzed in terms of HBV infection. Of those found to be susceptible to HBV infection, a total of 42 patients consisting of 16 females and 26 males were enrolled in the accelerated vaccination program. All the patients were administered a 20-μg yeast-derived recombinant hepatitis B vaccine on days 0, 14, and 28. Anti-HBs titers above 10 IU/l at 1 and 3 months after the final dose were accepted as protective. Results A total of 146 (44.6%) patients were susceptible to HBV, while 13 (4.0%) were carriers, 28 (8.6%) were vaccinated, and 113 (34.5%) had had a previous HBV infection. A total of 42 patients (16 females and 26 males, mean age 34.5 ± 10.9 years) were enrolled in the vaccination program. Overall, 23.8% (10/42) of the patients in the program had developed anti-HBs at one month after the last vaccination. Conclusions Poor results obtained by different vaccination programs suggest the need for alternative strategies to prevent the disease.