Response to vaccination against hepatitis B in patients with Behcet's disease

• Published in: Journal of gastroenterology and hepatology Vol. 20; no. 10; pp. 1508 - 1511
• Main Authors: ERKEK, EMEL, AYASLIOGLU, ERGIN, ERKEK, AYHAN BULENT, KURTIPEK, GULCAN SAYLAM, BAGCI, YETER
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Melbourne, Australia Blackwell Science Pty 01.10.2005; Blackwell Science
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Behcet Syndrome - immunology; Behcet's disease; Biological and medical sciences; Case-Control Studies; Female; Hepatitis B - prevention & control; Hepatitis B Antibodies - blood; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens - immunology; hepatitis B infection; hepatitis B vaccination; Human viral diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Prospective Studies; response; Sarcoidosis. Granulomatous diseases of unproved etiology. Connective tissue diseases. Elastic tissue diseases. Vasculitis; side-effects; Treatment Outcome; Vaccination - adverse effects; Viral diseases; Viral hepatitis; Skin disease; side-effects; Toxicity; Vaccination; Cardiovascular disease; Hepatic disease; Behcet's disease; Genital diseases; Prevention; Vascular disease; Viral hepatitis B; Vasculitis; Systemic disease; Secondary effect; hepatitis B vaccination; Human; Stomatology; Behçet syndrome; Infection; Immunoprophylaxis; Eye disease; hepatitis B infection; Viral disease; response; Digestive diseases
• ISSN: 0815-9319; 1440-1746
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-1746.2005.03903.x

Background and Aim:  Hepatitis B virus infection is an important public health problem in Turkey. Although hepatitis B vaccination is regarded as safe and effective for the general population, recommendations for hepatitis B immunization in patients with Behcet's disease are not clear. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the response of patients with Behcet's disease to hepatitis B vaccination and to determine whether hepatitis B vaccination has any adverse effects on the course of the disease. Methods:  Thirteen patients with Behcet's disease and 15 healthy individuals were enrolled into a prospective study. All subjects received the 3‐dose series of routine hepatitis B vaccine. Anti‐hepatitis B surface response was evaluated 1–3 months after the third dose of vaccine. Results:  The responder rates for patient and control groups were 12/13 (92.8%) and 14/15 (93.8%), respectively. Statistical analysis showed no significant difference between the two groups in terms of both the responder rates and mean antibody titers. Conclusions:  These preliminary findings might suggest that the majority of patients with Behcet's disease develop protective antibody response after hepatitis B vaccination and that the immune response against hepatitis B surface antigen is adequate, efficient and intact. © 2005 Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd