Successful hepatitis B vaccination in patients who underwent transplantation for hepatitis B virus–related cirrhosis: Preliminary results

Long‐term hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIg) prophylaxis prevents endogenous hepatitis B virus (HBV) reinfection in the majority of liver transplant recipients. Active hepatitis B vaccination after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) in these patients has produced conflicting results to date. On this study, patients who remained hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) negative with passive immunization after OLT for HBV cirrhosis were actively immunized using recombinant HBV antigen (Engerix), together with a novel adjuvant system (monophosphoryl lipid A and a natural saponine molecule). This led to a sustained antibody response to HBsAg (>500 IU/L) in 5 of 10 patients. This antibody response prevented reinfection and allowed termination of prophylactic HBIg substitution for more than 12 months in these patients.

[1]  K. Stark,et al.  Immunisations in solid-organ transplant recipients , 2002, The Lancet.

[2]  G. Tisone,et al.  Failure of a reinforced triple course of hepatitis B vaccination in patients transplanted for HBV‐related cirrhosis , 2002 .

[3]  D. Samuel,et al.  Hepatitis B immune globulin to prevent hepatitis B virus graft reinfection following liver transplantation: A concise review , 2000, Hepatology.

[4]  J. Sánchez-Tapias,et al.  Hepatitis B immunoglobulin discontinuation followed by hepatitis B virus vaccination: A new strategy in the prophylaxis of hepatitis B virus recurrence after liver transplantation , 2000, Hepatology.

[5]  R. Bárcena,et al.  Response to hepatitis B virus vaccine in patients transplanted for HBV-related liver disease under specific gammaglobulin prophylaxis. , 1999, Transplantation proceedings.

[6]  C. Bréchot,et al.  Specific vaccine therapy in chronic hepatitis B: induction of T cell proliferative responses specific for envelope antigens. , 1999, The Journal of infectious diseases.

[7]  Y. Wen,et al.  Antigen-antibody complex as therapeutic vaccine for viral hepatitis B. , 1999, International reviews of immunology.

[8]  N. Chalasani,et al.  Is vaccination against hepatitis B infection indicated in patients waiting for or after orthotopic liver transplantation? , 1998, Liver transplantation and surgery : official publication of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases and the International Liver Transplantation Society.

[9]  G. Alexander,et al.  Liver transplantation in European patients with the hepatitis B surface antigen. , 1993, The New England journal of medicine.