Immune response to hepatitis B vaccination in human immunodeficiency virus‐positive patients in China: A 2‐year retrospective study

Abstract Currently, the studies focused on the immune response to hepatitis B vaccination in Chinese human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)‐positive patients are limited. In this study, the participants with an initial hepatitis B surface antibody (HBsAb) titer <10 mIU/ml were assigned to Cohort 1 to receive a standard dose of recombinant hepatitis B vaccine, and participants with an initial HBsAb titer between 10 and 100 mIU/ml were assigned to Cohort 2 to receive a single reinforced recombinant vaccine. In Cohort 1, the immune and high response rates in HIV‐positive patients were 93.4%/81.4%, 87.4%/51.5%, and 83.2%/40.7% at 1–3 months, 1 year, and 2 years postvaccination. Multivariate analysis showed that only age and HIV RNA status at baseline were independent factors related to sustained immune response at 2 years postvaccination. In Cohort 2, the high immune response rates in HIV‐positive patients were 78.8%, 60.6%, and 51.5% at 1–3 months, 1 year, and 2 years postvaccination. The immune or high response rates did not differ between HIV‐positive patients and healthy controls at 1–3 months postvaccination in these two cohorts; however, HBsAb titers were significantly lower in HIV‐positive patients. This study summarized the 2‐year data of immune response to hepatitis B vaccination and analyzed the factors related to sustained immune response at 2 years postvaccination in Chinese HIV‐positive patients.