Authors: Qian Wu, Gui-hua Zhuang, Xue-liang Wang, Tie-jun Hou, Dimpy P. Shah, Xiao-li Wei, Li-rong Wang and Min Zhang

Qian Wu

Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics; Xi’an Jiaotong University College of Medicine; Xi’an, Shaanxi, P.R. China

Gui-hua Zhuang

Corresponding author: zhuanggh@mail.xjtu.edu.cn
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics; Xi’an Jiaotong University College of Medicine; Xi’an, Shaanxi, P.R. China

Xue-liang Wang

Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics; Xi’an Jiaotong University College of Medicine; Xi’an, Shaanxi, P.R. China

Tie-jun Hou

Xi’an Center for Disease Control and Prevention; Xi’an, Shaanxi, P.R. China

Dimpy P. Shah

Center for Infectious Diseases, Division of Epidemiology; School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center; Houston, TX USA

Xiao-li Wei

Xi’an Center for Disease Control and Prevention; Xi’an, Shaanxi, P.R. China

Li-rong Wang

Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics; Xi’an Jiaotong University College of Medicine; Xi’an, Shaanxi, P.R. China

Min Zhang

Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics; Xi’an Jiaotong University College of Medicine; Xi’an, Shaanxi, P.R. China

Abstract:
To compare the long-term immunogenicity and seroprotection rates in healthy children following 23 years of vaccination with 10 μg or 20 μg doses of plasma-derived hepatitis B vaccine, we revisited all participants from our previous randomized controlled trial. At year 23, 81 participants were tested for HBV serological markers and HBV-DNA, and a booster dose was given to those with anti-HBs titer < 10 mIU/mL. After eliminating the interference of a Year 11 booster dose and vaccines received outside of the trial, around 50% of participants still maintained anti-HBs titers ≥ 10 mIU/mL in both 10 μg and 20 μg groups (p > 0.05). The peak immune response of vaccination (anti-HBs antibody levels at 12 mo after 1st vaccine dose) and Year 11 anti-HBs levels were significantly associated with Year 23 seroprotection rates. Most of the participants in both groups, regardless of their prior immune status, developed a rapid and robust anamnestic antibody response after the booster dose at year 23. No case of clinically significant HBV infection was observed during the entire study period of 23 y with only one transient HBsAg seroconversion in 10 μg vaccine group. We concluded that seroprotection provided by 10μg or 20 μg doses of hepatitis B vaccine persists for 23 years in more than half of vaccinated individuals in highly HBV-endemic areas, irrespective of 10 μg or 20 μg vaccine doses. Future studies with larger sample sizes comparing long-term efficacy of various doses of plasma-derived and recombinant HBV vaccines are recommended.

Received: March 14, 2012; Accepted: May 7, 2012; Published Online: August 1, 2012

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