Antibody Levels and Protection after Hepatitis B Vaccination: Results of a 15-Year Follow-up
Publication: Annals of Internal Medicine
Volume 142, Number 5
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Abstract
Background:
The duration of protection afforded by hepatitis B vaccination is unknown.
Objective:
To determine antibody persistence and protection from hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.
Design:
Prospective cohort study.
Setting:
15 villages in southwest Alaska.
Participants:
1578 Alaska Natives vaccinated at age 6 months or older.
Intervention:
During 1981–1982, participants received 3 doses of plasma-derived hepatitis B vaccine. This cohort was followed annually over the first 11 years, and 841 (53%) persons were tested at 15 years.
Measurements:
Antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs), markers of HBV infection, and testing to identify HBV variants.
Results:
Levels of anti-HBs in the cohort decreased from a geometric mean concentration of 822 mIU/mL after vaccination to 27 mIU/mL at 15 years. Initial anti-HBs level, older age at vaccination, and male sex were associated with persistence of higher anti-HBs levels at 15 years when analyzed by a longitudinal linear mixed model. After adjustment for initial anti-HBs level and sex, those vaccinated at age 6 months to 4 years had the lowest anti-HBs level at 15 years. Asymptomatic breakthrough infections were detected in 16 participants and occurred more frequently in persons who did not respond to vaccination than those who responded (P = 0.01). Among infected persons with viremia, 2 were infected with wild-type HBV and 4 had HBV surface glycoprotein variants, generally accompanied by wild-type HBV.
Limitations:
The loss of participants to follow-up at 15 years was 47%. However, characteristics of persons tested were similar to those of persons lost to follow-up.
Conclusions:
Hepatitis B vaccination strongly protected against infection for at least 15 years in all age groups. Antibody levels decreased the most among persons immunized at 4 years of age or younger.
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Information & Authors
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Published In
Annals of Internal Medicine
Volume 142 • Number 5 • 1 March 2005
Pages: 333 - 341
History
Published online: 1 March 2005
Published in issue: 1 March 2005
Keywords
Copyright
© 2005 American College of Physicians.
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Antibody Levels and Protection after Hepatitis B Vaccination: Results of a 15-Year Follow-up. Ann Intern Med.2005;142:333-341. [Epub 1 March 2005]. doi:10.7326/0003-4819-142-5-200503010-00008
Antibody Levels and Protection after Hepatitis B Vaccination: Results of a 15-Year Follow-up. Ann Intern Med.2005;142:333-341. [Epub 1 March 2005]. doi:10.7326/0003-4819-142-5-200503010-00008
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