Publication

Determinants of hepatitis a vaccine immunity in a cohort of human immunodeficiency virus-infected children living in Switzerland

Journal Paper/Review - Aug 29, 2012

Units
PubMed
Doi

Citation
Crisinel P, Posfay-Barbe K, Aebi C, Cheseaux J, Kahlert C, Rudin C, Nadal D, Siegrist C, Swiss Mother and Child HIV Cohort Study of Switzerland (MoCHiV). Determinants of hepatitis a vaccine immunity in a cohort of human immunodeficiency virus-infected children living in Switzerland. Clin Vaccine Immunol 2012; 19:1751-7.
Type
Journal Paper/Review (English)
Journal
Clin Vaccine Immunol 2012; 19
Publication Date
Aug 29, 2012
Issn Electronic
1556-679X
Pages
1751-7
Brief description/objective

Vaccination in HIV-infected children is often less effective than in healthy children. The goal of this study was to assess vaccine responses to hepatitis A virus (HAV) in HIV-infected children. Children of the Swiss Mother and Child HIV Cohort Study (MoCHiV) were enrolled prospectively. Recommendations for initial, catch-up, and additional HAV immunizations were based upon baseline antibody concentrations and vaccine history. HAV IgG was assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with a protective cutoff value defined as ≥10 mIU/ml. Eighty-seven patients were included (median age, 11 years; range, 3.4 to 21.2 years). Forty-two patients were seropositive (48.3%) for HAV. Among 45 (51.7%) seronegative patients, 36 had not received any HAV vaccine dose and were considered naïve. Vaccine responses were assessed after the first dose in 29/35 naïve patients and after the second dose in 33/39 children (25 initially naïve patients, 4 seronegative patients, and 4 seropositive patients that had already received 1 dose of vaccine). Seroconversion was 86% after 1 dose and 97% after 2 doses, with a geometric mean concentration of 962 mIU/ml after the second dose. A baseline CD4(+) T cell count below 750 cells/μl significantly reduced the post-2nd-dose response (P = 0.005). Despite a high rate of seroconversion, patients with CD4(+) T cell counts of <750/μl had lower anti-HAV antibody concentrations. This may translate into a shorter protection time. Hence, monitoring humoral immunity may be necessary to provide supplementary doses as needed.