Hepatitis B vaccination: a new strategy to prevent hepatitis B recurrence after liver transplantation for hepatitis B virus-related recipients / 中华肝胆外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the efficacy of hepatitis B vaccination in preventing hepatitis B (HBV) recurrence after liver transplantation for hepatitis B virus-related (HBV-related) recipients.Methods 30 healthy recipients who survived for more than 2 years after liver transplantation received vaccination using hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-containing vaccine.There were a total of 5 injections at 0 month, 1 month, 2 months, 3 months and 6 months respectively, and each dose was 40 μg.Thirty healthy adults who received hepatitis B vaccination during the same period were selected into the control group.The antibody of hepatitis B surface (Anti-HBs) titer was tested at 1 month, 2 months, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months and 12 months after the first vaccination.Results 6.7％ (2/30) of the liver transplantation recipients had good response (defined as a rise of Anti-HBs titer of more than 100 IU/L at 12 months after the primary vaccination), and 16.7％ of recipients (5/30) had partial response (Anti-HBs titer in 3 patients at less than 100 IU/L, Anti-HBs titer in 2 patients at more than 100 IU/L at first, then less than 100 IU/L after 12 months).For the 9 patients who received liver transplantation for acute liver failure, 2 had good response (22.2％) and another 2 patients (22.2％) had partial response.For the liver transplant recipients who survived for more than 5 years, 2 had good response (22.2％) and another patient (11.1％) had partial response.In the healthy control group, the good response rate was 73.3％ (22/30), and the partial response rate was 10％ (3/30).Conclusions Some HBV-related liver transplant recipients could acquire Anti-HBs by vaccination.Good response rate was lower in the HBV-related group of liver transplant recipients than in the healthy control group of people.Recipients for liver transplantation carried out for acute liver failure and recipients who survived for more than 5 years had higher response rates to HBV vaccination.HBV vaccination can be a way to prevent HBV recurrence in some liver transplant recipients.