Intramuscular versus intradermal. administration of anti-hepatitis B vaccine in non-cirrhotic hepatitis C patients

Intradermal vaccination has been proposed as an alternative for the administration of anti-hepatitis B vaccine. Patients (n = 66) with chronic viral hepatitis C without cirrhosis were randomised into two groups (intramuscular, n = 38; and intradermal, n 28) for prospective immunisation with 20 jig recombinant vaccine, using an ultra-rapid schedule (doses at 0, 15 and 30 days). Sero-conversion (antibody level greater than or equal to 10 mU/ml) in the intramuscular group was reached by 20, 40 and 72% of patients at days 15, 30 and 60 compared to 4, 8 and 36% for the intradermal group (P = 0.010 at day 60). Additionally, levels rose more rapidly in the intramuscular group (P = 0.004). Our results do not support the use of intradermal route of immunisation against HBV in HCV patients. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.