Mechnikov Research Institute of Vaccines and Sera, Moscow; Children’s Regional Clinical Hospital, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
Prevention of hepatitis B in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1) by means of immunoprophylaxis is essential due to severe course of the infection in such patients. Serologic study of 205 vaccinated and unvaccinated children with DM1 was performed. Of 66 unvaccinated children 46 (69.7%) were seronegative. Mean geometric titer of antibodies after vaccination was significantly higher than conditionally protective titer (10 mIU/ml) only in children vaccinated 3 times according to 0 ― 1 ― 6 months schedule. Of 121 children, which were fully vaccinated, 13 (10.7%) were seronegative. Correlation of seronegativity with sex, duration of the disease, insulin dose, presence of allergic diseases, recurrent acute respiratory infections, and time from vaccination was not observed. Intensity of immunity after vaccination decreased with increasing number of diabetic complications. If number of DM1 complications exceeds 3, especially in children living in rural area, serologic monitoring is essential for deciding whether booster vaccination against hepatitis B is needed.
Zh. Mikrobiol. (Moscow), 2008, No. 5, P. 61—65