부산대학교 도서관

We assessed the persistence of hepatitis B surface antigen antibody (anti- HBs) and immune memory in a cohort of 571 teenagers vaccinated against hepatitis B as infants, 17 years earlier. Vaccinees were followed-up in 2003 and in 2010 (i.e. 10 years and 17 years after primary vaccination, respectively). When tested in 2003, 199 vaccinees (group A) had anti- HBs <10 mIU/mL and were boosted, 372 (group B) were not boosted because they had anti- HBs ≥10 mIU/mL ( n = 344) or refused booster ( n = 28) despite anti- HBs <10 mIU/mL. In 2010, 72.9% (416/571) of participants had anti- HBs ≥10 mIU/mL (67.3% in group A vs. 75.8% in group B; p 0.03). The geometric mean concentrations ( GMCs) were similar in both groups. Between 2003 and 2010, anti- HBs concentrations in previously boosted individuals markedly declined with GMC dropping from 486 to 27.7 mIU/mL (p <0.001). Fifteen vaccinees showed a marked increase of antibody, possibly due to natural booster. In 2010, 96 individuals (37 of group A and 59 of group B) with anti- HBs <10 mIU/mL were boosted; all vaccinees of the former group and all but two of the latter had an anamnestic response. Post-booster GMC was higher in group B (895.6 vs. 492.2 mIU/mL; p 0.039). This finding shows that the immune memory for HBs Ag persists beyond the time at which anti- HBs disappears, conferring long-term protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]