RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Hepatitis B vaccination in preterm infants
JF Archives of Disease in Childhood - Fetal and Neonatal Edition
JO Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
SP F135
OP F138
DO 10.1136/fn.77.2.F135
VO 77
IS 2
A1 Huang, Fu-Yuan
A1 Lee, Ping-Ing
A1 Lee, Chin-Yun
A1 Huang, Li-Min
A1 Chang, Luan-Yin
A1 Liu, Su-Chin
YR 1997
UL http://fn.bmj.com/content/77/2/F135.abstract
AB AIM To investigate the immunogenicity and safety of existing recommendations for hepatitis B vaccination in preterm infants. METHODS Recombinant hepatitis B vaccine (H-B-VAX II, 5 μg per dose) was given to 85 preterm infants divided into two groups, using two different schedules. Forty four group A infants with birthweights of < 2000 g received three doses at 1, 2, and 7 months of age. Forty one group B infants with birthweights of ⩾2000 g received three doses at 0, 1, and 6 months of age. RESULTS After vaccination, 42 infants from group A (95%) and 37 infants from group B (90%) developed protective levels of antibody. The final seropositive rate and the geometric mean concentration of hepatitis B surface antibody between the two groups were not significantly different. The immune response of preterm infants to hepatitis B vaccines was similar to that of term infants in a previous study. CONCLUSIONS Preterm infants can be given hepatitis B vaccines using one of the above two different schedules, at a cutoff birthweight of 2000 g.