Broader use of hepatitis B virus vaccine: Efficacy in those who lost hepatitis B surface antigen during follow-up

The article “efficacy of hepatitis B vaccine in those who lost hepatitis B surface antigen during follow-up” published recently in Hepatitis Monthly (1), described the efficacy of HBV vaccine in chronic HBV patients who had been found negative for HBsAg and HBV DNA in sera. The manuscript was highlighted by an Editorial in the same issue (2). The manuscript dealt with a group of chronic HBV patients who were described as having occult HBV (3), with one major difference; usually occult HCV is defined as the presence of low levels of HBV viremia in the absence of detectable HBsAg but detectable anti-HBcAb, whereas in this manuscript (1) the authors considered patients with undetectable HBsAg (with prior positive HBsAg) as well as undetectable HBV DNA levels (< 50 copies/mL of HBV DNA) with anti-HBe and anti-HBc antibodies. Thirty-four such patients and 52 control healthy individuals were vaccinated with three doses of HBV vaccine (Engerix-B, SmithKline Beecham); the antibody levels c 2011 Kowsar M.P.Co. All rights reserved. Please cite this paper as: Kumar R, Agrawal B. Boarder use of hepatitis B virus vaccine: Efficacy in those who lost hepatitis B surface antigen during follow-up. Hepat Mon. 2011;11(6):477-8.