Hepatitis B Virus Vaccination in HIV: Immunogenicity and Persistence of Seroprotection up to 7 Years Following a Primary Immunization Course

Vaccination against hepatitis B virus (HBV) is recommended in people living with HIV (PLHIV), although immune response rates are lower than in healthy individuals. We aimed at assessing response rates and predictors as well as persistence of seroprotection in a cohort of PLHIV with no serological evidence of current or previous HBV infection. PLHIV followed at our site were retrospectively included if they started a primary HBV vaccination course (20\u2009mcg three-dose schedule, alone or combined with inactivated hepatitis A virus) between 2007 and 2012. Serological response was defined as hepatitis B surface antibodies (HBsAb) 6510\u2009IU/liter 4 to 24 weeks after the third vaccine dose. Among 134 patients included, 119 completed the primary HBV vaccination schedule. Of them, 68% developed serological response. HIV viral suppression was associated with HBsAb 6510\u2009IU/liter [adjustedOR (odds ratio) 0.52, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.33-0.82, p\u2009=\u2009.005], whereas CD4-T cell count was not (adjustedOR 1.001, 95% CI 1.001-1.003, p\u2009=\u2009.1). HBsAb titer declined over time, since 69.3% and 26.9% of vaccinees had HBsAb 6510\u2009IU/liter 36 and 84 months after the third HBV vaccine dose. Time-updated CD4-T cell count was associated with persistence of seroprotection [adjustedHR (hazard ratio) 1.17, 95% CI 1.06-1.30, p\u2009=\u2009.003], independently from quantitative HBV surface antigen titer achieved at the end of the primary vaccination schedule (HR 1.02, 95% CI 0.96-1.08, p\u2009=\u2009.64). The longer the time interval from vaccination, the higher the risk of loss of seroprotection. Repeating HBsAb titer 5 years after a successful HBV vaccination may be used to guide booster vaccination, as the majority of subjects may no longer have seroprotective HbsAb titers