CLINICAL-EXPERIENCE WITH A NEW RECOMBINANT HEPATITIS-B VACCINE IN PREVIOUS NONRESPONDERS WITH CHRONIC RENAL-INSUFFICIENCY

Patients with renal insufficiency have an increased risk of hepatitis B infection and a high probability to develop a chronic course of this disease. After hepatitis B vaccination they are known to show a low r ate of seroconversion. In the present study we assessed the efficacy o f a new recombinant pre-S1 and pre-S2 containing hepatitis B vaccine i n 17 non-responders (anti-HBs titer 0) and 4 low-responders (anti-HBs titer less than or equal to 5 IU/ml) with chronic renal insufficiency (16 on chronic hemodialysis therapy and 5 without hemodialysis treatme nt). Seroconversion rate was 65% after the third and 71% after the fou rth vaccination. Only minor side effects were seen. These results enco urage to use the new vaccine in a larger number of patients with renal insufficiency.