PEDIATRICS Vol. 99 No. 4 April 1997, pp. 534-536 (doi:10.1542/peds.99.4.534)
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow P3Rs: Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when P3Rs are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow E-mail this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My File Cabinet
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Kim, S. C.
Right arrow Articles by Watson, B.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Kim, S. C.
Right arrow Articles by Watson, B.
Related Collections
Right arrow Infectious Disease & Immunity

PEDIATRICS Vol. 99 No. 4 April 1997, pp. 534-536

Immunogenicity of Hepatitis B Vaccine in Preterm Infants

Received Jan 2, 1996; accepted May 28, 1996.

Susan C. Kim*, Esther K. Chung*, Richard L. Hodinka*, John DeMaioDagger , David J. West§, Abbas F. Jawad*, and Barbara Watson*

From the * Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Dagger  Lankenau Hospital, Wynnewood, Pennsylvania; and § Merck Research Laboratories, West Point, Pennsylvania.

Objective.  To determine the immunogenicity of hepatitis B vaccine in preterm infants when the first dose of vaccine is delayed until hospital discharge.

Methods.  One hundred two preterm infants (23 to 36 weeks' gestational age) born to hepatitis B surface antigen-negative mothers were enrolled. Immunization was initiated just before hospital discharge with subsequent doses 1 and 6 months later. Serum specimens were obtained before the administration of each vaccine dose and 3 months after the last dose and were tested for antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (antiHBs).

Results.  Eighty-seven infants (85%) completed the study. Ninety percent (n = 78) of infants who completed the study seroconverted (antiHBs >= 10 mIU/mL); 10% (n = 9) remained seronegative at study completion. The geometric mean antibody titer to hepatitis B surface antigen for infants who seroconverted was 200 mIU/mL. Nonresponders (NR) differed from responders (R) in birth weight (NR = 2090 g, R = 1560 g) gestational age (NR = 33 weeks, R = 31 weeks), and weight gain before vaccine initiation (NR = 244 g, R = 633 g). There were no differences in weight or age at vaccine initiation, Apgar scores, interval between vaccine doses, or bacterial infections, steroid use, or transfusions before vaccine initiation.

Conclusions.  Ninety percent of preterm infants responded to hepatitis B vaccine when the first dose of vaccine was delayed until hospital discharge. Nonresponders were more likely to be preterm infants of higher birth weight and higher gestational age, and to have gained less weight before vaccine initiation.

Key words: hepatitis B vaccine, immunogenicity, preterm infants.




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 PediatricsHome page
F. Omenaca, J. Garcia-Sicilia, P. Garcia-Corbeira, R. Boceta, A. Romero, G. Lopez, and R. Dal-Re
Response of Preterm Newborns to Immunization With a Hexavalent Diphtheria-Tetanus-Acellular Pertussis-Hepatitis B Virus-Inactivated Polio and Haemophilus influenzae Type b Vaccine: First Experiences and Solutions to a Serious and Sensitive Issue
Pediatrics, December 1, 2005; 116(6): 1292 - 1298.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 NeoReviewsHome page
J. E. Baley and E. G. Leonard
The Immunologic Basis for Neonatal Immunizations
NeoReviews, October 1, 2005; 6(10): e463 - e470.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 PediatricsHome page
T. N. Saari and and Committee on Infectious Diseases
Immunization of Preterm and Low Birth Weight Infants
Pediatrics, July 1, 2003; 112(1): 193 - 198.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed.Home page
N. Linder, R. Handsher, B. German, L. Sirota, M. Bachman, S. Zinger, E. Mendelson, and A. Barzilai
Controlled trial of immune response of preterm infants to recombinant hepatitis B and inactivated poliovirus vaccines administered simultaneously shortly after birth
Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed., July 1, 2000; 83(1): 24F - 27.
[Abstract] [Full Text]

Home page
 PediatricsHome page
G. A. Losonsky, S. S. Wasserman, I. Stephens, F. Mahoney, P. Armstrong, K. Gumpper, S. Dulkerian, D. J. West, and I. H. Gewolb
Hepatitis B Vaccination of Premature Infants: A Reassessment of Current Recommendations for Delayed Immunization
Pediatrics, February 1, 1999; 103(2): 14e - 14.
[Abstract] [Full Text]

Home page
 Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed.Home page
O. Blondheim, D. Bader, M. Abend, M. Peniakov, D. Reich, I Potesman, R. Handsher, I. Gidoni, and N. Linder
Immunogenicity of hepatitis B vaccine in preterm infants
Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed., November 1, 1998; 79(3): 206F - 208.
[Abstract] [Full Text]