The Evolution of Hepatitis B Surface Antibody (Anti-HBs) Titer of the Kidney Transplant Recipients: A 5-Year Experience Guideline for the Optimal Maintaining Immunization.
Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
Meeting: 2017 American Transplant Congress
Abstract number: A300
Keywords: Hepatitis B, Kidney transplantation
Session Information
Session Name: Poster Session A: Viral Conundrums
Session Type: Poster Session
Date: Saturday, April 29, 2017
Session Time: 5:30pm-7:30pm
Presentation Time: 5:30pm-7:30pm
Location: Hall D1
Background: Immunization against hepatitis B virus (HBV) in kidney transplantation (KT) recipients is recommended as KDIGO guideline. Although hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs) titer of 10 IU/L is admitted to be able to against HBV in general population, anti-HBs titer above 100 IU/L is recommended as the optimal threshold in our center. Therefore, the natural evolution of anti-HBs titer in recipients after KT should be systematically explored for maintaining immunization. We aimed to evaluate the evolution of anti-HBs titers during the following time and propose the optimal timeline including managements of HBV immunization protocol in KT recipients.
Methods: We performed a prospective cohort study with scheduled the anti-HBs titer follow-up timing and immunization as shown. 
In brief, all participating patients were KT recipients who had HBsAg(-) and anti-HBs titer above 100 IU/L prior to KT. This immunity level may be natural or passive immunization.
Results: All 183 recipients had a reduction of anti-HBs titer after KT. The pattern of reduction rate of anti-HBs titer after transplantation was non-linear. The mean anti-HBs titer half-life (t [frac12]) was 57.8 months. KT recipients with natural immunity had longer natural evolution time of anti-HBs titer compared with who had immunity from passive immunization (23.4 months vs 11.8 months, log rank test p<0.0001). In addition, at 12 months after KT, 6% (11/183) of recipients had lost their protective anti-HBs titer below 100 IU/L. However, these recipients were able to restore their anti-HBs titer with only one double booster dose of HBV vaccine. The cut-off anti-HBs titer that demonstrated all-time effectively maintaining anti-HBs titer above 100 IU/L was 168 IU/L.
Conclusions: The loss of anti-HBs titer levels following year after KT was considerable. For getting the optimal immunity against HBV, KT recipients should be regularly investigated and reimmunized the HBV immunity, particularly when anti-HBs titer was below 200 IU/L.
CITATION INFORMATION: Chancharoenthana W, Leelahavanichkul A, Wattanatorn S, Avihingsanon Y, Praditpornsilpa K, Townamchai N. The Evolution of Hepatitis B Surface Antibody (Anti-HBs) Titer of the Kidney Transplant Recipients: A 5-Year Experience Guideline for the Optimal Maintaining Immunization. Am J Transplant. 2017;17 (suppl 3).
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
Chancharoenthana W, Leelahavanichkul A, Wattanatorn S, Avihingsanon Y, Praditpornsilpa K, Townamchai N. The Evolution of Hepatitis B Surface Antibody (Anti-HBs) Titer of the Kidney Transplant Recipients: A 5-Year Experience Guideline for the Optimal Maintaining Immunization. [abstract]. Am J Transplant. 2017; 17 (suppl 3). https://atcmeetingabstracts.com/abstract/the-evolution-of-hepatitis-b-surface-antibody-anti-hbs-titer-of-the-kidney-transplant-recipients-a-5-year-experience-guideline-for-the-optimal-maintaining-immunization/. Accessed May 14, 2025.« Back to 2017 American Transplant Congress