Authors: Seyed Moayed Alavian
Publish Date: 2012/10/07
Volume: 172, Issue: 6, Pages: 855-855
Abstract
The published article by Aypak et al 1 focused on the persistence of antiHBs antibody Ab in 2 to 12yearold children in Turkey and the high titer of antiHBs antibody in 94 528 of whom were antiHBs antibody negative after boosting HBV vaccination 1 There is a recent report by Tosun et al from Turkey 4 that they found protective level of antibody near 50 in children after 9 years of neonatal vaccination The reported rate of persistent protective level of antiHBs Ab titers varied from 33 up to 79 at least 5 years after vaccination 5 It seems that the differences are related to the possibility of enrollment of some children without complete vaccination or related to maintaining cold chain in transportation and handling of vaccine improper injection and other technical problems 3 Following a complete series of vaccination during neonatal period protective antibody level raises in more than 95 of infants up to 18 months after vaccination but we do not have enough data to confirm the response or nonresponse to HBV vaccine in the enrolled study group in the study of Aypak et al that the main cause is related to retrospective pattern of the study There is a possibility of previous HBV infection that might potentially be responsible for nonresponsiveness to HBV vaccine In the study of Aypak et al there is around 50 missing outcome in who were antiHBs antibody negative However I would like to emphasize that in changing the epidemiology of HBV transmission from vertical to horizontal during adolescence we should consider the testing of antiHBs Ab during this period to make sure the persistence of longlasting immunity extending to adulthood Finally I would like to add that celiac disease may be associated with nonresponse to HBV vaccine and evaluation of nonresponder is recommended 2
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