EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT DOSE LEVELS AND VACCINATION SCHEDULES ON IMMUNE-RESPONSE TO A RECOMBINANT DNA HEPATITIS-B VACCINE IN HEMODIALYSIS-PATIENTS

Hepatitis B is a frequent complication in haemodialysis patients because of their repeated exposure to blood products, and their impaired cellular and humoral response; trials with plasma-derived hepatitis B vaccine (PDV) show lower immune responses than those in health adults. Using a yeast-derived hepatitis B vaccine (YDV), the immunogenicity of two different dose levels (20 and 40 μg) and three vaccination schedules were compared in over 270 seronegative dialysis patients. Vaccination with 40 μg have slightly better results than with the 20 μg dose. Seroconversion rates were higher with four dose, 40 μg vaccination schedules than a three dose schedule, and ranged from 80 to 86%. As the 40 μg, 0, 1, 2, 6 month schedule leads to a more rapid rise in antibody levels than the 40 μg, 0, 1, 2, 12 month schedule, it appeats to be the most appropritate schedule in this patient group. © 1990.