Does Extra-High Dose Hepatitis B Vaccination Confer Longer Serological Protection in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients?

The objective of the present randomized study is to evaluate the optimum strategy of recombinant hepatitis B vaccination in the maintenance of protective anti-HBs antibody among end-stage renal disease patients on peritoneal dialysis. This study is designed to establish whether a three-dose schedule of 80 microgram Engerix-B vaccine could maintain protective antibody response among dialysis patients. The secondary aim is to identify the effects of dosing on various subgroups of dialysis patients.

Viral hepatitis B infection remains a major health hazard for end-stage renal disease patients on dialysis. The direct costs of hepatitis B infection and long term impact on morbidity and renal transplantation are substantial. Apart from the devastating consequences of hepatitis B infection on patients on dialysis or after transplantation, infected patients are potential reservoirs for infecting other patients and haemodialysis staff. Antibody production achieved in renal patients is suboptimal; the most effective method of vaccination to prevent hepatitis B infections in end-stage renal disease subjects has hitherto been unanswered by the current literature and the latest Cochrane Collaboration review.

Given the relatively low seroconversion rate and maintenance of protective hepatitis antibody levels among end-stage renal disease patients, a treatment strategy using various doses of recombinant hepatitis B vaccine (Engerix-B) has been recently explored. In an observational study, the investigators demonstrated no statistically significant difference in response rate between patients receiving three recommended doses of Engerix-B intramuscularly (40 micrograms each dose) and those with four times the normal adult dose (80 micrograms each dose), (78% versus 100%, P = 0.23). On the other hand, according to the Kaplan-Meier estimates, 78 percent of patients in the 40 micrograms Engerix-B vaccination group and 96 percent of patients in the 80 micrograms dosing group had maintained the seroprotective levels of antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) at 12 months after initial response. This difference corresponds to an absolute risk reduction of 18 percent for losing the antibody response with a three-dose schedule of 80 micrograms Engerix-B vaccination program. In other words, the investigators estimate that giving Engerix-B 80 micrograms dose would lead to one extra end-stage renal disease subject with persistent seroprotective anti-HBs level at one year for every 5.6 patients treated (number needed to treat to benefit NNT, 5.6; 95% confidence interval, 5.4 to 5.8).

Inclusion criteria

• Age above 18 years
• End-stage renal disease and on maintenance peritoneal dialysis
• Serologically negative for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibody to hepatitis core antigen (anti-HBc)
• No history of receiving hepatitis B vaccination
• Willingness to give written informed consent and willingness to participate in and comply with the study protocol

Exclusion criteria

• Expected survival less than 6 months
• Those who refused vaccination
• Active malignancy
• Alcoholic liver disease
• Chronic hepatitis C and/or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection
• Receiving immunosuppressive medications