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Vaccination Hep B

Posted: Aug 27, 2007

QUESTION:

Please can you tell me what the theory is behind vaccinating my HIV patients that are HepBcAb+ve (natural immunity) with a course of vaccinations? We have never done this previously but one of my consultants is now requesting we do this?


  

RESPONSE FROM:   

    The idea is that this serologic result may be false. Recent data indicate that many patients with HIV who have a positive core IgG have no HBV DNA present at all. As HIV is associated with generalized polygammopathy, the thinking is that this is a false positive antibody result in many patients.

    In our clinic we have completely stopped using HBcAb as a screening test and only order HBsAg and HBsAb. If those are both negative, we vaccinate.

    DW




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