AIM: To investigate the significance of isolated hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) and to analyze the response to hepatitis B virus (HBV) booster vaccination in young adults with isolated anti-HBc who had been fully vaccinated with HBV vaccine as infants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We screened 1734 new university entrants who had been fully vaccinated against HBV in infancy for the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs), and anti-HBc upon university entry. Results positive for isolated anti-HBc were reconfirmed by testing for the presence of HBsAg and anti-HBc once more, and further evaluated for anti-HCV, anti-HIV, and HBV DNA status 6 months later. Students were also offered HBV booster vaccinations at that time. Geometric mean titers (GMT) of anti-HBs after one booster dose of HBV were compared between students with isolated anti-HBc and students with HBV naïve status. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of isolated anti-HBc in our student cohort was 1.2% (21 of 1734). No evidence of occult HBV infection was observed. A "booster" anamnestic response (anti-HBs titer ≥ 10 mIU/mL) was noted in 95% (20 of 21) of subjects with isolated anti-HBc. After re-measurement of anti-HBc, 13 (62%) of the 21 subjects with isolated anti-HBc were reclassified as having resolved HBV infection with a loss of anti-HBs. In the remaining 8 subjects (38%), isolated anti-HBc was determined to be false positive. The HBV status of these 8 subjects was HBV naïve due to the waning-off effect of anti-HBs of the neonatal HBV vaccination. There was no significant difference in anamnestic response to a single HBV booster dose of vaccine between students with isolated anti-HBc (n=13) and those with HBV naïve (n=323) status (GMT 50.6 vs 47.7 mIU/mL, P=0.90). CONCLUSION: The presence of isolated anti-HBc 18 years after HBV vaccination can be attributed to post-HBV infection with a loss of anti-HBs and to a decline in anti-HBs elicited by vaccine. A single HBV booster dose of vaccine is recommended for subjects with isolated anti-HBc who were fully vaccinated with HBV vaccine as infants. This finding needs to be replicated in further studies with larger cohorts.
AIM: To investigate the significance of isolated hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) and to analyze the response to hepatitis B virus (HBV) booster vaccination in young adults with isolated anti-HBc who had been fully vaccinated with HBV vaccine as infants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We screened 1734 new university entrants who had been fully vaccinated against HBV in infancy for the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs), and anti-HBc upon university entry. Results positive for isolated anti-HBc were reconfirmed by testing for the presence of HBsAg and anti-HBc once more, and further evaluated for anti-HCV, anti-HIV, and HBV DNA status 6 months later. Students were also offered HBV booster vaccinations at that time. Geometric mean titers (GMT) of anti-HBs after one booster dose of HBV were compared between students with isolated anti-HBc and students with HBV naïve status. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of isolated anti-HBc in our student cohort was 1.2% (21 of 1734). No evidence of occult HBV infection was observed. A "booster" anamnestic response (anti-HBs titer ≥ 10 mIU/mL) was noted in 95% (20 of 21) of subjects with isolated anti-HBc. After re-measurement of anti-HBc, 13 (62%) of the 21 subjects with isolated anti-HBc were reclassified as having resolved HBV infection with a loss of anti-HBs. In the remaining 8 subjects (38%), isolated anti-HBc was determined to be false positive. The HBV status of these 8 subjects was HBV naïve due to the waning-off effect of anti-HBs of the neonatal HBV vaccination. There was no significant difference in anamnestic response to a single HBV booster dose of vaccine between students with isolated anti-HBc (n=13) and those with HBV naïve (n=323) status (GMT 50.6 vs 47.7 mIU/mL, P=0.90). CONCLUSION: The presence of isolated anti-HBc 18 years after HBV vaccination can be attributed to post-HBV infection with a loss of anti-HBs and to a decline in anti-HBs elicited by vaccine. A single HBV booster dose of vaccine is recommended for subjects with isolated anti-HBc who were fully vaccinated with HBV vaccine as infants. This finding needs to be replicated in further studies with larger cohorts.
Authors: Brenna C Simons; Philip R Spradling; Dana J T Bruden; Carolyn Zanis; Samantha Case; Tammy L Choromanski; Minjun Apodaca; Hazel D Brogdon; Gaelen Dwyer; Mary Snowball; Susan Negus; Michael G Bruce; Chihiro Morishima; Cindy Knall; Brian J McMahon Journal: J Infect Dis Date: 2016-04-07 Impact factor: 5.226
Authors: Iman I Salama; Samia M Sami; Zeinab Nabil Ahmed Said; Manal H El-Sayed; Lobna A El Etreby; Thanaa M Rabah; Dalia M Elmosalami; Amany T Abdel Hamid; Somaia I Salama; Aida M Abdel Mohsen; Hanaa M Emam; Safaa M Elserougy; Amal I Hassanain; Naglaa F Abd Alhalim; Fatma A Shaaban; Samia A Hemeda; Nihad A Ibrahim; Ammal M Metwally Journal: World J Hepatol Date: 2015-10-08
Authors: Shuaibu A Hudu; Yasmin A Malik; Mohd Taib Niazlin; Nabil S Harmal; Ariza Adnan; Ahmed S Alshrari; Zamberi Sekawi Journal: Patient Prefer Adherence Date: 2013-09-27 Impact factor: 2.711