O-18 IMPAIRED ANTI-HBV VACCINE RESPONSE IN NON-CIRRHOTIC CHRONIC HCV PATIENTS IS NOT OVERCOME BY DOUBLE DOSE REGIMEN. FOURTH DOSE MAYBE THE ANSWER!

Introduction

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination is regarded as the most effective method for the prevention and control of HBV infection. Studies showed a reduced HBV vaccine response between patients with chronic hepatitis C (HCV), but studies exploring HBV vaccine efficacy in this population have equivocal results.

Objectives

To evaluate HBV vaccine response in patients with HCV submitted to two different (20 µg vs 40 µg in 0, 1 and 6 months) anti-HBV vaccine schemes and administer the 4^th additional dose in non-responders as well as assess the maintenance of seroprotectors titers.

Methods

This randomized controlled trial included 141 HCV who received double dose (40ug) or standard dose (20ug) and 70 healthy volunteers who received standard dose (20ug) at 0, 1 and 6 months. Anti-HBs titers were measured at 1 month after last dose. Vaccine response was defined by anti-HBs ≥10 U/L. Non-responders received the fourth dose according to the group that were previously randomized. Multivariate regression was modeled as a logistic regression.

Results

128 completed the study. Median age 51 years, 61% female, 52% White, 40% F2-3, and 75% GT1, median 6 log10 HCV RNA. Overall seroconversion rate was 76.7% (n=60) in double dose and 73.5% (n=68) in standard dose, compared to 91.2% in controls (n=68). 23 patients received the fourth dose; 7 seroconverted (30.4%) and seroconversion rate for double and standard doses were 42.9% and 11.1%, respectively (p=0.18). Controlling for confounders, only older age (p<0.001) and GT1 (p=0.005) were associated with a decreased anti-HBs response.

Conclusion

In HCV-infected patients without cirrhosis, responses to HBV vaccination are significantly impaired and this reduced response cannot be overcome by the use double dose. Besides that, 4^th dose HBV vaccination can be a strategy efficacious this vulnerable population.