HLA tissue types in nonresponders to hepatitis B vaccine.

Genetic factors are implicated in the response of normal subjects to hepatitis B vaccine. In order to investigate the immunogenetic factors associated with nonresponsiveness to hepatitis B vaccine, 93 health care workers were vaccinated with hepatitis B vaccine. Initial nonresponders (antibody not detected or antibody detected but < 10 mlU/ml) were revaccinated. Only 12 (12.9%) of the 93 health care workers, who had anti-HBs levels of 10 mlU/ml or less after revaccination were defined as absolute nonresponders. HLA typing were performed in these 12 nonresponders, Anti-HBs levels were determined by ELISA method in mlU/ml units. HLA-A,B,C,DR, and DQ typing was performed using the microcytotoxicity test. The HLA-A10 (pc less than 0.01) and CW4 (pc less than 0.006) were decreased whereas DR7 (pc less than 0.09) was increased in nonresponders. Although our initial results suggest the importance of genetic modulation of responsiveness to hepatitis B vaccine, a formal demonstration of the mode of inheritance of unresponsiveness to hepatitis B vaccine and the explanation of the role of genes in this matter will require further studies of families.