HEPATITIS-B VACCINATION IN INFANTS OF MOTHERS INFECTED WITH HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS

A study was conducted to investigate the immunogenicity of a recombinant DNA hepatitis B vaccine in neonates and children of HIV-infected women. Immunization against hepatitis B consisted of three 10 mu g doses of the vaccine administered on a 0-, 1- and 6-month schedule. The children were followed up for an average of 11 months. Of the 118 HIV-positive neonates who participated in the study, 95 lost their HIV antibodies during the follow-up period. Most (94.2%) of the latter who completed the study responded to the vaccine. Of the 23 who remained HIV-positive, 17 completed the study and 7 produced hepatitis B antibodies. (C) 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.