Active Immunization in Patients Transplanted for Hepatitis B Virus Related Liver Diseases: A Preliminary Report of a Prospective Study
Organ Transplantation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
Meeting: 2015 American Transplant Congress
Abstract number: A188
Keywords: HB vaccine, Hepatitis B, Prophylaxis, Recurrence
Session Information
Session Name: Poster Session A: Liver Transplantation: Viral Hepatitis
Session Type: Poster Session
Date: Saturday, May 2, 2015
Session Time: 5:30pm-7:30pm
Presentation Time: 5:30pm-7:30pm
Location: Exhibit Hall E
Aims: The aim of this study was to prospectively investigate the effectiveness and safety of procedural HBV vaccine in patients transplanted for hepatitis B virus related liver diseases to prevent hepatitis B recurrence.
Methods: Recipients who had undergone liver transplantation for hepatitis B related liver diseases at more than 1 years before and had no evidence of HBV recurrence nor immunity with normal liver function were enrolled in this study. Except for regular use of nucleoside analogues prophylaxis, all subjects also received hepatitis B vaccination (40 ¯o;g) by intramuscular injection at months 0, 1, 2, 6 and 12 after enrolment. The liver function and HBsAb titers were measured before each dose of vaccine and HBIG would be administrated intramuscularly if HBsAb titers below 30 IU/L during the course. We regularly monitored their results of blood routine tests, liver functions, concentrations of immunosuppressive medications, hepatitis B virus DNA copies and so on during the research. After the completion of vaccination procedure, all subjects were followed up for the monitor of HBsAb titers for 6 months.
Results: There were 29 patients enrolled in this study by far. The average HBsAb titer before vaccination was 18.78±15.93 IU/L (n=29), and it increased to 23.41±14.94 IU/L (n=29), 21.90±13.28 IU/L (n=27), 28.88±27.31 IU/L (n=27) and 34.68±27.08 IU/L (n=22) after the first four vaccination respectively. In addition, 5 subjects completed the vaccine course are being followed up for the monitor of HBsAb titers and 2 recipients maintain a HBsAb titer above 30 IU/L with only hepatitis B vaccination. There have been no report of reactivation of hepatitis B virus, immune rejection, severe anaphylaxis and other adverse events so far.
Conclusions: It is safe to procedurally receive HBV vaccine to prevent hepatitis B recurrence in patients transplanted for hepatitis B virus related liver diseases. However, the effectiveness of vaccination needed further im provement and a high potency vaccine is critically needed in China to prevent reactivation of hepatitis B virus and promote the survival of post-transplant recipients.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
Ju W, Yang A, Guo Z, Ren Q, Wang D, Hu A, Ma Y, Jin H, Zhu X, He X. Active Immunization in Patients Transplanted for Hepatitis B Virus Related Liver Diseases: A Preliminary Report of a Prospective Study [abstract]. Am J Transplant. 2015; 15 (suppl 3). https://atcmeetingabstracts.com/abstract/active-immunization-in-patients-transplanted-for-hepatitis-b-virus-related-liver-diseases-a-preliminary-report-of-a-prospective-study/. Accessed May 19, 2025.« Back to 2015 American Transplant Congress