[Hepatitis B vaccination effectiveness based on anti-HBs antibodies presence in children vertically infected with...

To evaluate hepatitis B vaccination effectiveness.

49 vertically HIV-infected children were enrolled. Anti-HBs antibodies were evaluated at HIV diagnosis, at evaluation (year 2004) and after primary vaccination. The following factors were analyzed: age, time since the last vaccine dose, clinical and immunological CDC category, HIV viral load, age at the beginning of ART.

At HIV diagnosis 14% of children had anti-HBs antibody level > or = 100 mLU/ml. At evaluation 76% of patients had anti-HBs antibody level > or = 100 mIU/ml. Children, who were diagnosed before their first birthday, were more likely to have protective antibody level (p < 0.01). Percentage of lymphocyte T CD4+ count (p < 0.01) and time since last vaccination (p < 0.01) were found to be important factors of vaccination response. Primary vaccination was effective in 86% of children.

Factors which influenced vaccination effectiveness included early HIV diagnosis, percentage of lymphocyte T CD4+ at evaluation and time since last vaccination. The effectiveness of primary vaccination was high.