Long term persistence of anti-HBs protective levels in young patients withtype 1 diabetes after recombinant hepatitis B vaccine

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the persistence of anti-hepati tis B protective levels in young patients with type 1 diabetes, successfull y immunised with a recombinant hepatitis B vaccine. We re-evaluated, after a 4 year follow-up, 54 patients and 70 age and sex-matched healthy subjects . Protective antibodies levels were found in 50/54 (92%) patients and in 67 /70 (96%) controls. Moreover, anti-HBs levels were similar in diabetic pati ents and controls (means of log-titre and (sd); 1,95 (0.88) and 2.18 (0.64) patients and controls, respectively; P = 0.11). No cases of clinical hepat itis were reported and all patients and controls remained HBc negative. The se data demonstrate the persistence of anti-HBs levels in children, adolesc ents and young patients with type 1 diabetes after recombinant hepatitis B vaccine showing evidence of longterm immunogenity and protective effect. (C ) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.