[Anti-hepatitis B vaccination and postvaccinal immunity stimulation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary...

The problem of the anti-hepatitis B vaccination of patients with chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) was discussed due to the lack of studies concerning the developing of the postvaccinal immunity, especially when vaccination is combined with the immunomodulating treatment. The data on the vaccination safety and its influence on the clinical course of COPD are also insufficient. Therefore, in this work we investigated the efficiency of the antihepatitis B vaccination in adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease under the treatment with the immunomodulating Affonoleikin drug. A total of 93 patients were tested including 59 patients with severe and moderate COPD (aged from 35 to 65 years). 34 of these 59 patients were vaccinated against hepatitis B (Kombioteh) according to 0-1-6 month scheme, and 25 of them were vaccinated against hepatitis B during the treatment with Affinoleikin. The control group, consisted of 34 healthy patients. Our study demonstrated good tolerance and high immune efficiency of the anti-hepatitis B vaccine. However, after the first vaccination the level of HBs-AT was below protective level in patients with COPD compared to healthy patients. Also, 64 to 70 % of patients with COPD were seronegative excluding the patients receiving the Affinoleikin treatment, whose antibody titer was protective after the first vaccine dose, but did not reach the level typical of healthy patients. After the second vaccination we detected low and medium protective antibody levels in 58.9% of patients from the 1st group, whereas 41% were seronegative. Introduction of the third vaccine-dose led to fast and significant increase in the antibody level mainly in high concentrations with 100% seroconversion in all patients. Combined antihepatitis B vaccination and Affinoleikin treatment in patients with COPD leads to faster biosynthesis of HBs- AT in protective concentrations and decrease of seronegative response, but it has no effect on frequency and type of general and local postvaccinal response.