Antibody response to hepatitis B vaccine in substance use disorder patients

• Published in: Drug and alcohol dependence Vol. 107; no. 1; pp. 39 - 43
• Main Authors: Hagedorn, Hildi J, Rettmann, Nancy A, Dieperink, Eric W, Durfee, Janet, Aqel, Bashar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01.02.2010; Elsevier
• Subjects: Addictive behaviors; Adult; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antibodies; Biological and medical sciences; Drug addiction; Female; Hepatitis B; Hepatitis B Antibodies - blood; Hepatitis B vaccine; Hepatitis B Vaccines - immunology; Hepatitis services; Human viral diseases; Humans; Immunization; Infectious diseases; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous; Prognosis; Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Substance abuse; Substance abuse disorders; Substance abuse treatment programs; Substance use disorders; Substance-Related Disorders - blood; Substance-Related Disorders - immunology; Veterans; Veterans - statistics & numerical data; Viral diseases; Viral hepatitis; United States; North America; America; Substance use disorders; Substance abuse treatment programs; Hepatitis B vaccine; Hepatitis services; Veterans; Human; Drug addiction; Program; Immune response; Poison withdrawal; Antibody; Vaccination; Hepatic disease; Patient; Substance abuse; Vaccine; Infection; Viral hepatitis B; Immunoprophylaxis; Addiction; Viral disease; Digestive diseases; Drug of abuse; Veteran
• ISSN: 0376-8716; 1879-0046
• DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2009.09.004

Abstract The objectives of this study were to assess the prevalence of prognostic factors previously known to be associated with poor antibody response to hepatitis B vaccination in a sample of veterans presenting for substance use disorders treatment at a Veterans Health Administration (VA) Medical Center, assess vaccination response, and identify markers for poor response in this population. Results indicated that most participants had multiple prognostic factors previously known to be associated with poor antibody response including male gender, age over 40, smoking, and obesity. The rate of seroconversion in this sample was 51.9%. This is substantially lower than seen in healthy adults. Alcohol dependence was the only significant independent negative predictor of seroconversion in this sample. Substance use disorders treatment providers who are considering adding hepatitis B vaccination services to their clinics should be aware that the antibody response to the hepatitis B vaccination is inconsistent and that patients with particular demographic characteristics may be at heightened risk of poor antibody response.