TY - JOUR
T1 - Persistence of immunity 18–19 years after vaccination against hepatitis B in 2 cohorts of vaccinees primed as infants or as adolescents in Italy
AU - the Study Group
AU - Romanò, Luisa
AU - Galli, Cristina
AU - Tagliacarne, Catia
AU - Tosti, Maria Elena
AU - Velati, Claudio
AU - Fomiatti, Laura
AU - Chironna, Maria
AU - Coppola, Rosa Cristina
AU - Cuccia, Mario
AU - Mangione, Rossana
AU - Marrone, Fosca
AU - Negrone, Francesco Saverio
AU - Parlato, Antonino
AU - Zotti, Carla Maria
AU - Mele, Alfonso
AU - Zanetti, Alessandro Remo
AU - Spada, Enea
AU - Alfonsi, Valeria
AU - Sallustio, Anna
AU - Procacci, Rossella
AU - Masia, Giuseppina
AU - Meloni, Angelo
AU - Grande, Silvana Lo
AU - Filippo, Cantone
AU - Gonfalone, Vito
AU - Consagra, Rosa Maria
AU - Russotto, Angela
AU - Frangapani, Domenico
AU - Ulivieri, Giovanna
AU - Nini, Alessandra
AU - Maldini, Morena
AU - Cafarelli, Giuseppe
AU - Giambersio, Antonio
AU - Alfieri, Rosa
AU - Santolo, Milena Scotto di
AU - Zamparo, Emanuela
AU - Cacello, Elena
AU - Montu’, Domenico
AU - Belloni, Annamaria
PY - 2017/5/4
Y1 - 2017/5/4
N2 - This study was aimed at assessing the anti-HBs persistence and immune memory 18–19 y after vaccination against hepatitis B in healthy individuals primed as infants or adolescents. We enrolled 405 teenagers (Group A) vaccinated as infants, and 409 young adults (Group B) vaccinated as adolescents. All vaccinees were tested for anti-HBs and anti-HBc antibodies; those found anti-HBc positive were further tested for HBsAg and HBV DNA. Eight individuals belonging to Group B were positive for anti-HBc alone, and were excluded from analysis. Individuals with anti-HBs concentration ≥ 10 mIU/ml were considered protected while those with anti-HBs concentration <10 mIU/ml were offered a booster dose and re-tested 2 weeks later. Overall, 67.9% individuals showed anti-HBs concentrations ≥ 10 mIU/ml (48.9% in Group A vs 87.0% in Group B, p < 0.001). The antibody geometric mean concentration (GMC) was higher in Group B than in Group A (102.5 mIU/ml vs 6.9 mIU/ml; p < 0.001). When boosted, 94.2% of vaccinees with anti-HBs <10 mIU/ml belonging to Group A and 94.7% to Group B showed an anamnestic response. Post-booster GMCs were similar in both groups (477.9 mIU/ml for Group A vs 710.0 mIU/ml for Group B, p = n.s.). Strong immunological memory persists for at least 18–19 y after immunization of infants or adolescents with a primary course of vaccination. Thus, booster doses are not needed at this time, but additional follow up is required to assess the long-life longevity of protection.
AB - This study was aimed at assessing the anti-HBs persistence and immune memory 18–19 y after vaccination against hepatitis B in healthy individuals primed as infants or adolescents. We enrolled 405 teenagers (Group A) vaccinated as infants, and 409 young adults (Group B) vaccinated as adolescents. All vaccinees were tested for anti-HBs and anti-HBc antibodies; those found anti-HBc positive were further tested for HBsAg and HBV DNA. Eight individuals belonging to Group B were positive for anti-HBc alone, and were excluded from analysis. Individuals with anti-HBs concentration ≥ 10 mIU/ml were considered protected while those with anti-HBs concentration <10 mIU/ml were offered a booster dose and re-tested 2 weeks later. Overall, 67.9% individuals showed anti-HBs concentrations ≥ 10 mIU/ml (48.9% in Group A vs 87.0% in Group B, p < 0.001). The antibody geometric mean concentration (GMC) was higher in Group B than in Group A (102.5 mIU/ml vs 6.9 mIU/ml; p < 0.001). When boosted, 94.2% of vaccinees with anti-HBs <10 mIU/ml belonging to Group A and 94.7% to Group B showed an anamnestic response. Post-booster GMCs were similar in both groups (477.9 mIU/ml for Group A vs 710.0 mIU/ml for Group B, p = n.s.). Strong immunological memory persists for at least 18–19 y after immunization of infants or adolescents with a primary course of vaccination. Thus, booster doses are not needed at this time, but additional follow up is required to assess the long-life longevity of protection.
KW - HBV
KW - hepatitis B
KW - immune memory
KW - long-term immunity
KW - vaccination
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85015777362&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85015777362&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/21645515.2017.1264795
DO - 10.1080/21645515.2017.1264795
M3 - Article
C2 - 28272974
AN - SCOPUS:85015777362
VL - 13
SP - 981
EP - 985
JO - Human Vaccines and Immunotherapeutics
JF - Human Vaccines and Immunotherapeutics
SN - 2164-5515
IS - 5
ER -