IMPAIRED RESPONSE TO HEPATITIS-B VACCINE IN HIV INFECTED CHILDREN

Eighteen human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) vertically infected children (HIV group) and 33 seroreverted children (SR group), who had completed hepatitis B vaccination (Engerix B, 20-mu-g dose) were studied. Four out of 18 (22%) HIV children failed to develop protective antibody levels (anti-HBs titres < 10 mIU ml-1) compared with 1 out of 33 (3%) SR children (p < 0.05). Magnitude of response among HIV children was significantly lower than among SR children. In HIV children the probability that anti-HBs titres persist above the protective levels was significantly lower than in the SR group at any time during the 24 month follow-up. These results show that HIV children have a suboptimal response to hepatitis B immunization and the protection is less durable. Further studies are needed to determine the optimal protocol for hepatitis B immunization in HIV children.