Korean J Pediatr.  2006 Aug;49(8):857-863. 10.3345/kjp.2006.49.8.857.

Immune responses of hepatitis B vaccination among very low birth weight infant

• Kim YD
• Han MK
• Kim AR
• Kim KS
• Pi SY

• KMID: 1607312
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3345/kjp.2006.49.8.857

Abstract

PURPOSE: To evaluate the immunogenicity of hepatitis B vaccine among very low birth weight infants(VLBWI) who were vaccinated at 0, 1, 6 months of chronological age and to determine the factors associated with antibody formations.
METHODS
A total of 243 VLBWI admitted to Seoul and Gangneung Asan Medical Center neonatal intensive care units from 1997 to 2004 were included. Of 243, 13 infants were born to HBs Ag positive mother. All infants were given DNA recombinant vaccine at 0, 1, and 6 months of chronological age. Infants born to HBs Ag positive mothers received hepatitis B immunoglobulin at birth and a total of 4 doses of vaccinations. An antibody level over 10 mIU/mL, tested at 3-4 months after last vaccination, was regarded as a positive seroconversion.
RESULTS
The seroconversion rates were 84.4 percent and 84.5 percent for VLBWI and extremely low birth weight infants(ELBWI), respectively. Of 28 seronegative infants who were given revaccinations, 60.7 percent seroconverted, resulting in 95.3 percent, 97.5 percent seroconversion rates for VLBWI and ELBWI, respectively. 76.9 percent of infants born to HBsAg positive mothers seroconverted and none became hepatitis B carriers. Factors such as gestational age, sex, various neonatal illness, and kinds of vaccinations did not influence the formation of the hepatits B antibody, however, the higher the weight at time of first vacciation yielded better seroconversion rate.
CONCLUSION
Revaccination of seronegative VLBWI after 3 doses of hepatitis B vaccinaton is very effective. Therefore, testing the immune status after the hepatitis B vaccination, a practice not routinely done, is highly recommended.

Keyword

HBs Ab; Seroconversion; Very low birth weight infants

MeSH Terms

Chungcheongnam-do
DNA
Gangwon-do
Gestational Age
Hepatitis B Surface Antigens
Hepatitis B Vaccines
Hepatitis B*
Hepatitis*
Humans
Immunization, Secondary
Immunoglobulins
Infant
Infant, Low Birth Weight
Infant, Newborn
Infant, Very Low Birth Weight*
Intensive Care Units, Neonatal
Mothers
Parturition
Seoul
Vaccination*
DNA
Hepatitis B Surface Antigens
Hepatitis B Vaccines
Immunoglobulins