Low-dose intradermal and subcutaneous versus intramuscular hepatitis B vaccination in primary non-responding hemodialysis patients.

OBJECTIVE Patients with end-stage renal failure are at high risk of hepatitis B virus (HB V) infection. They have impaired immune response to HBV intramuscular (i.m.) vaccine. Non-response (anti HBs titer < 100mIU/ml) hemodialysis patients (HD) with the previous three-dose i.m. vaccination were examined with booster dose vaccine by i.m. , intradermal (i.d) and subcutaneous (s.c.) routes. MATERIAL AND METHOD Thirty-four HD patients who had been vaccinated with three-dose vaccine (40 microgram, 2 ml, Engerix B, i. m.) and had anti-HBs titer less than 100mlU/ml were selected. They were randomly divided into three groups and received a fourth dose of vaccine by i.m. (40 microgram, 2 ml), i.d (10 microgram. 0. 5 ml) and s.c. (10 microgram, 0. 5 ml). Then, serum anti-HBs titer was determined after 45 days and 6 months. RESULTS Forty five days after completion of the re-vaccination course, anti-HBs titer was above 100 mIU/ml in 6/11, 3/11 and 4/12 of i.m. s.c. and i. d groups, respectively (p > 0.05). After six months, 4/11, 3/11 and 2/12 of patients had anti-HBs titer above l00mlU/ml (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION With lower dose of vaccine (10 microgram) in s.c. groups, these patients had lower change in their anti-HBs titer. Therefore, it is cost effective and practical to offer other vaccination schemes.