Response to HBV vaccine in relation to anti-HCV and anti-HBc positivity: a study in intravenous drug addicts

Vaccine. 1999 Aug 6;17(23-24):3083-5. doi: 10.1016/s0264-410x(99)00143-7.

Abstract

Drug addicts represent the group of young adults with the lowest response to hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccine. A study was carried out on 110 current intravenous heroin users attending the service providing assistance to intravenous drug users (IVDUs) (SERT) in Padua: 66.4% of them were found anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV)-positive and 33.6% were anti-HBc positive; 29.9% were positive for both. The subjects were vaccinated with 10 microg of yeast-derived vaccine at months 0, 1 and 2 (fast schedule). The overall response rate was 66.4%. Response seems to be affected by positivity to anti-HBc, but not to HCV infection.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Female
  • Hepatitis B / blood
  • Hepatitis B / immunology*
  • Hepatitis B Antibodies / biosynthesis*
  • Hepatitis B Core Antigens / immunology*
  • Hepatitis B Vaccines / immunology*
  • Hepatitis C / blood
  • Hepatitis C / epidemiology
  • Hepatitis C / immunology*
  • Hepatitis C Antibodies / biosynthesis*
  • Hepatitis C Antibodies / blood
  • Heroin*
  • Humans
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Substance Abuse, Intravenous / blood
  • Substance Abuse, Intravenous / immunology*
  • Substance Abuse, Intravenous / virology

Substances

  • Hepatitis B Antibodies
  • Hepatitis B Core Antigens
  • Hepatitis B Vaccines
  • Hepatitis C Antibodies
  • Heroin