Immunogenicity and safety of an inactivated hepatitis a vaccine in anti‐HIV positive and negative homosexual men

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Abstract
The immunogenicity, reactogenicity, and safety of an inactivated hepatitis A vaccine were assessed in anti‐HIV positive homosexual men. Fourteen anti‐HIV positive (group 1) and 20 anti‐HIV negative (group 2) men received vaccine (containing 720 ELISA units of hepatitis A antigen per dose) intramuscularly at 0, 1, and 6 months. Twelve unvaccinated anti‐HIV positive men (group 3) were included as controls to evaluate disease progression. Seroconversion (anti‐hepatitis V virus (HAV ⩾20 mlU/ml) was higher in group 2 than group 1 at months 2 (100% vs. 73%) and 7 (l00%vs. 77%). Group 2 had higher antibody titres than group 1 at months 1 (201 vs. 92 mlU/ml) and 7 (1, 687 vs. 636 mlU/ml). The decline in CD4+ cells between months 0 and 7 was similar in groups 1 and 3 (6.4% vs. 16.2%), showing no evidence for harmful effect of the vaccine on the course of HIV infection. This hepatitis A vaccine appears safe, well tolerated, but less immunogenic in HIV positive homosexual men.