Response to HBV vaccine in relation to anti-HCV and anti-HBc positivity: astudy in intravenous drug addicts

Drug addicts represent the group of young adults with the lowest response t o hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccine. A study was carried out on 110 current i ntravenous heroin users attending the service providing assistance to intra venous drug users (IVDUs) (SERT) in Padua: 66.4% of them were found anti-he patitis C virus (HCV)-positive and 33.6% were anti-HBc positive; 29.9% were positive for both. The subjects were vaccinated with 10 mu g of yeast-deri ved vaccine at months 0, 1 and 2 (fast schedule). The overall response rate was 66.4%. Response seems to be affected by positivity to anti-HBc, but no t to HCV infection. (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.