Vaccination against viral hepatitis b in pediatric liver transplant recipients

Abstract

Durable protection from hepatitis B virus (HBV) and other vaccine-preventable diseases assumes great importance due to improved long-term patient and graft survival rates in pediatric liver transplantation (PLT). Vaccine immunogenicity data in transplanted children is limited. The review presents aspects of current approach for childhood HBV immunization schedule prior to transplant, duration of time since transplant for receive booster dose, target median HBsAb levels before and after PLT. The latest data about types of vaccine against HBV and vaccine effectiveness in PLT centers in the world are also presented.

Keywords

• pediatric liver transplantation
• hepatitis b virus infection
• vaccination