Antibody response to hepatitis B vaccination in isolated anti-Hbc IgG positive cases

Abstract

Objective: We aimed to investigate the antibody response secondary to 1 dose of hepatitis B vaccine and factors affecting this response in isolated cases of anti-HBc IgG positive cases.Materials and Methods: Fortyone people who were positive for isolated anti-HBc and negative for other markers of hepatitis B were recruited in the study. The level of anti-HBs was measured at the 10th and 30th day after the administration of hepatitis B vaccine to these 41 people. HBV-DNA was searched with PCR in people who did not developed a secondary antibody response to one dose of vaccination at Day 10 and 30.Results: Anti-HBs was found to be at protective levels (>= 10 IU/mL) in 27 (65.8 %) out of 41 people included in the study. The antibody response developed in 27 people with one dose of vaccination was thought to be a secondary response, and the 14 people who did not form anti-HBs and were found to be negative for HBVDNA by PCR were thought to have false anti-HBc positivity and be inactive HBs Ag carriers (HBs Ag falling below the measurable level in time and presence of antiHBe or preS, S, precor, cor mutant strain infection). There was a highly significant correlation between antibody levels at Day 10 and Day 30 (p< 0.001). In addition, when the antibody levels of people who developed secondary response at Day 10 were investigated, antibody levels of non-smokers were found to be (0-1000 IU/mL; 194.3 +/- 327.2 IU/mL) significantly higher compared to smokers (0-70 IU/mL; 12 +/- 21.8 IU/mL) (p= 0.015). No statistically significant difference was determined between the antibody responses at Day 10 and Day 30 of people with a history of diabetes mellitus (DM), malignity, chronic diseases, alcohol consumption, previous HBsAg positivity and HBV-DNA positivity, anti-HCV positivity, and hepatitis B carriers in the family (p> 0.05).Conclusion: An anamnestic response is suggested in people who give anti-HBs response to one dose of hepatitis B vaccine. However, a false anti-HBc IgG positivity or undetectable levels of HBs Ag should be considered in people who do not give antibody response. According to our results smoking affects the level of antibody response negatively. But we need further studies involving more people.