AEGiS-15IAC: Serological responses to hepatitis B vaccination in HIV infected patients.

15th International AIDS Conference

Bangkok, Thailand - July 11-16, 2004

Serological responses to hepatitis B vaccination in HIV infected patients.

Int Conf AIDS 2004 Jul 11-16; 15:(abstract no. B10109)

Gongora DV, Gongora-Rubio F, Onishi E, Ferreira LC
Hospital de Base - FUNFARME/ Infectious Diseases Department - FAMERP, Sao Jose do Rio Preto -SP, Brazil

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B prevention in HIV carriers is important owing to the greater risk of developing the chronic disease and evolving to hepatic cirrhosis earlier than other individuals. The aim of this study was to investigate which population is susceptible to the hepatitis B virus (HBV) among HIV positive individuals consulted in a DST-AIDS outpatient's clinic. A second objective was to confirm the seroconversion rate of the anti-hepatitis B vaccine in these patients, correlating their CD4+ levels and the quality of humoral immunological response (optic density of anti-HBs).

METHODS: In the period from January 1997 to December 2001, 2293 HIV+ patients were analyzed. A total of 874 of these individuals had been tested for HBsAg, anti-HBc and anti-HBs markers. Of these, 466 were susceptible to hepatitis B, 209 of whom received double doses of recombinant DNA vaccine against hepatitis B at 0-, 30- and 180-day intervals. The CD4+ count was verified immediately before the initial dose of vaccine. Due to death, non-compliance to the treatment or not being asked, only 142 patients performed the vaccinal control through anti-HBs measurement after the third dose.

RESULTS: In the studied population, 46.7% (408/874 patients) were or had been infected by HBV (HBsAg or anti-HBc positive). Of the 142 patients who completed the vaccinal control, 65.5% seroconvert after the regimen, where the CD4+ count was greater than those who did not seroconvert (p-value< 0.05), however there was no association between the anti-HBs levels and the CD4+ count (p-value >0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Although studies indicate that HIV carriers can develop less than optimum responses after vaccination against hepatitis B, the majority of individuals reach protective levels of antibodies. Thus this vaccine is justified for the HIV+ population independent of their degree of immunodeficiency.

Keywords: AEGIS, HIV Seropositivity, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Hepatitis B Antibodies, Hepatitis B Vaccines, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis B virus, Vaccination, Hepatitis B Core Antigens, Hepatitis B Surface Antigens, CD4 Lymphocyte Count, Vaccines, Hepatitis B e Antigens, Humans, immunology, pathogenicity

040711
B10109