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Majority of pediatric patients with IBD nonimmune to HBV after vaccination
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ORLANDO — In a retrospective chart review study, pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease had low immune responses to hepatitis B virus infection vaccination series vs. the general population, according to a poster presented at the Advances in Inflammatory Bowel Disease annual conference.
“Data suggests that a significant number of patients with inflammatory bowel disease who are treated with infliximab or azathioprine may not mount an adequate immune response to primary hep B vaccination series. … [We sought to] assess the rate of adequate immune response to primary hep B vaccination series in pediatric patients with [inflammatory bowel disease],” the researchers wrote.
Uma Padhye Phatak
Researchers, including Uma Padhye Phatak, MBBS, assistant professor of pediatrics, Yale University, analyzed available data of 122 pediatric patients with IBD who had serologic samples tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B surface antibody (HbsAb) between February 2010 and July 2015 at Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital.
Of the patients, 74 were boys and 48 were girls, with a mean age of 15.5 years. Forty-seven presented with ulcerative colitis and 75 had Crohn’s disease.
“All patients had received the primary hepatitis B vaccine series per patient or parent report or vaccination record from primary care physician,” the researchers wrote.
Overall, none of the patients were positive for HBsAg. However, only 28% of all patients had an adequate response to the hepatitis B vaccine series (n = 34), whereas 72% were found to be inadequately immune (n = 88). Of the immune patients, the mean HbsAb level was 101 mlU/mL. Of the patients who were not immune, the antibody level was less than 12 mlU/mL.
“Lack of immune response did not seem to be related to factors such as age, gender, disease type, or medications used to treat IBD,” the researchers wrote.
The researchers concluded: “Screening for immunity against hepatitis B should take place at the time of diagnosis.” – by Melinda Stevens
Reference: Phatak UP, et al. Abstract P-220. Presented at: Advances in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases; Dec. 10-12, 2015; Orlando, Fla.
Disclosure: Infectious Disease News was unable to confirm relevant financial disclosures at the time of publication.