Methadone‐maintained former heroin addicts, including those who are anti‐HIV‐1 seropositive, comply with and respond to hepatitis B vaccination

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Aims. To study the efficacy of standard hepatitis B (HB) vaccination in methadone‐maintained former intravenous drug users. Design. HB vaccine was administered to subjects at 0, 1 and 6 months. Setting. Two university‐affiliated methadone maintenance clinics. Participants. Forty‐three HB‐unexposed former heroin addicts in methadone maintenance treatment for heroin addiction. Measurements. HB surface antibody (anti‐HBs) response to the vaccine was assessed at 0, 1, 6 and 12 months; anti‐HIV‐1 status was also assessed. Findings. Thirty‐seven patients (86%) completed the 6‐month vaccination series. Of the 30 anti‐HIV‐1 seronegative patients who then completed the entire 12‐month protocol, 21 (70%) seroconverted (anti‐HBs ratio 2.1) and 19 (63%) were protected (anti‐HBs ratio 10). Two other subjects were anti‐HIV‐1 seropositive: one was HB‐protected at 12 months but later lost immunity. Ten anti‐hepatitis C antibody‐positive patients completed the 12‐month study and six were protected; thus, there was no significant relationship between hepatitis C status and HB vaccine response. Conclusions. Standard HB vaccination is both feasible and effective.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: