[Vaccination of uremic patients against hepatitis B]

Hepatitis B vaccine (Merck, Sharp & Dohm) was administered according to various vaccination schedules to 12 patients in preterminal renal failure without haemodialysis treatment, 81 patients on a chronic haemodialysis programme and 43 staff of a nephrological centre. After three-times vaccination (at 0, 1, 6 months) with 20 micrograms HBs antigen, seroconversion occurred in 91% of persons without kidney disease. A double dose (40 micrograms) was given, at the same time intervals, to 29 dialysis patients, with a seroconversion rate of 55% and titre levels less than in those without renal disease. Of 26 dialysis patients given the same dose (40 micrograms) five times (at 0, 1, 2, 4, 6 months), 63% achieved seroconversion with a definitely higher anti-HBs titre than those dialysis patients vaccinated only three times. Passive-active vaccination with 40 micrograms HBs antigen (at 0, 1, 2, 4, 6 months) as well as 3 ml hepatitis B immunoglobulin (at 0, 2 months) was given to 26 dialysis patients. There was a comparable frequency of seroconversion (58%) and a comparable titre rise to those obtained with active vaccination alone. Twelve pre-uraemic patients not requiring dialysis (serum creatinine 753 +/- 184 mumol/l) also were actively vaccinated three times, the results not differing from those in dialysis patients. The findings indicate that patients with renal disease potentially needing dialysis should, in the early stages of renal failure (serum creatinine less than 500 mumol/l) be vaccinated with hepatitis B vaccine.