Hepatitis B vaccination in patients with chronic hepatitis C

The aim of the study was to evaluate the safety, immunogenicity, and possib le therapeutic effect of hepatitis B vaccine in patients with chronic hepat itis C. The subjects studied included three groups: group I, 26 patients wi th chronic hepatitis C who were susceptible to hepatitis B virus infection; group II, 35 healthy subjects who were susceptible to both hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus infection; and group ill, 30 patients with chronic hepat itis C receiving no hepatitis B vaccination as controls. Three 20 mu g/dose of recombinant hepatitis B vaccines were given to subjects of groups I and II in months 0, 1, and 6. Blood samples from the subjects were collected b efore and 1 month after each dose of vaccination for serological testing. T he subjects of groups I and II had similar antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) response rates after the first (30.8% vs. 17.1%), second (61.5% vs. 60.0%), and third (88.5% vs. 91.4%) doses of vaccination. Also, their geometric mean titers of anti-HBs did not differ much when vaccinati on completed in 7 months (360 vs. 581 mlU/ml). During vaccination period, p atients with chronic hepatitis C demonstrated no significant change of seru m cytokines and HCV RNA levels, but significantly lowered ALT levels after th ree doses of vaccination. Hepatitis B vaccination is safe and immunogeni c in patients with chronic hepatitis C. It did not significantly affect the ir levels of HCV RNA, but tended to lower ALT levels. (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.