Observational Study Evaluating the Seroprotection of HepB-alum Vaccine and HepB-CpG Vaccine in People With HIV

• Published in: Open forum infectious diseases Vol. 10; no. 6; p. ofad267
• Main Authors: Reilly-Evans, Brenna, Dudzik, Beatrix, Costlow, David J, Hartmann, Carlos, Khalsa, Ann M, Kassis, Christelle, Zmarlicka, Monika T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: US Oxford University Press 01.06.2023
• Subjects: Major; hepB-CpG; vaccine; HIV; hepatitis B
• ISSN: 2328-8957; 2328-8957
• DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofad267

Abstract Background Hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccine seroprotection rates with conventional aluminum adjuvanted recombinant HBV vaccines, Engerix-B (HepB-alum) vaccine, among people with HIV (PWH) are varied. Heplisav-B (HepB-CpG) vaccine, a novel adjuvanted recombinant HBV vaccine, has shown higher seroprotection rates in immunocompetent patients but is not well studied in PWH. There are no published studies comparing seroprotection rates between HepB-alum and HepB-CpG in PWH. This study aims to evaluate and compare the seroprotection incidence of HepB-alum vs HepB-CpG in PWH at least 18 years of age. Methods This retrospective, observational cohort study included adults diagnosed with HIV who received a complete series of HepB-alum or HepB-CpG at a community health center in Phoenix, Arizona. Patients had a hepatitis B surface antibody <10 IU/L at the time of the first vaccine dose. The primary outcome was a comparison of seroconversion incidence between HepB-CpG and HepB-alum. Secondary outcomes included identifying factors associated with likelihood of response to HBV vaccination. Results A total of 120 patients were included in this study, 59 in the HepB-alum cohort and 61 in the HepB-CpG cohort. In the HepB-alum cohort, 57.6% achieved seroconversion, compared with 93.4% in the HepB-CpG cohort (P < .001). Those without diabetes were more likely to have response to a vaccine. Conclusions Among PWH at a single community health center, HepB-CpG provided a statistically higher incidence of seroprotection against HBV compared with HepB-alum.