Immune Response of Pediatric Hemodialysis Patients to Hepatitis B Vaccination

Abstract

Hemodialysis patients are at an increased risk of acquiring hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. However, the prevalence of viral hepatitis infection and its genotype distribution among hemodialysis patients are unclear. The study aimed to follow up the immune response to vaccination of HBV among pediatric patients on regular hemodialysis. The present study was carried out at the pediatric hemodialysis unit in Ain Shams university Children's hospital during the period extending from January 2014 to December 2014 .It included all the patients with ESRD on regular hemodialysis who received HBV vaccination in the Pediatric Dialysis Unit. All the patients were subjected to thorough medical history and examination. The laboratory investigation included complete blood picture (CBC), prothrombin and partial thromboplastin time, liver function tests (ALT, AST, TSB, DSB, Alb), serum iron, ferritin and total iron binding capacity. HBsAb titre by ELISA technique after 6 and 12 months from last vaccination dose.