ABSTRACT
Hepatitis B vaccination is recommended for all individuals with renal failure. Nevertheless, the response rate for this vaccine in hemodialysis patients is low. This study was designed to determine the response rate to hepatitis B vaccination in chronic renal failure [CRF] and end stage renal disease [ESRD] patients and those factors that influence it. We evaluated antiHBs level after primary vaccination in 32 predialysis and 93 dialysis patients. HBsAg positive patients were excluded. AntiHBs titers were determined in the period of 1 to 6 months after completion of vaccination. Seroconversion [antiHBs >/= 10mIU/ml] was found in 100 patients [80%], but an excellent response [titer>100 mIU/ml] was observed only in 74 [59.2%]. Response rate were 71.9 and 82.8 in predialysis CRF and ESRD patients, respectively, but this difference was not significant [