The response to Hepatitis B virus vaccine in HIV-infected patients (HIV/AIDS counseling and care center in Kermanshah)

Abstract

Background and Objective: HBV infection is preventable by effective vaccination in general population, but response to vaccine among HIV infected people seems to be low. Methods: In this prospective study, 48 HIV position patients with anti HBs-Ab and HBs Ag had hepatitis B vaccination (0, 1, 6 months). Anti-HBs levels were measured two months after the last dose by ELISA method. Cellular immunity was evaluated by flowcytometry. Findings: Only 14 (29.1%) of vaccinated HIV-infected patients had positive anti-HBs titers (11 males, 3 females). Among them, 4 (28.6%) were over 40 years and from 34 HIV positive patients who did not respond to hepatitis B vaccine, 10 (29.4%) were over 40 years old. The mean number of CD4+ T lymphocytes was 352.5 in responders and 283.9 in non-responders. 2 (17.6%) of 17 HIV positive patients with CD4+ T 500 responded to hepatitis B vaccine. Conclusion: Hepatitis B vaccination is better to be administered at the early stage of HIV infection. Conventional dose HIV vaccine is not enough for immunity. Therefore, it is recommended two-fold dose and repeated conventional dose or increasing interval administration of hepatitis B vaccine.

Keywords

• hiv/aids
• hepatitis b vaccine
• cd₄+ t lymphocytes