[Eradication of hepatitis B in dialysed patients through repeated sero vaccinations].

From December 1981 to April 1984, 56 dialysed patients have been enrolled in a sero-vaccination program in which injections of Hevac B vaccine and anti-HBs immunoglobulin have been repeated to obtain anti-HBs response. Anti-HBs antibodies were distinguished from passively transmitted anti-HBs whenever anti-HBs levels above 33 mUI/ml were found 60 days after the last injection of hepatitis B immune globulins (4 ml). Among 39 patients (25 men, 14 women) (mean age 59 years) the proportion of vaccine responders was 44%, 67%, 82%, 90% after respectively 4, 6, 10, 14 injections of Hevac B vaccine. Age, male sex and duration of dialysis were found to decrease the immune response to the vaccine. Multiple injections and maintenance of protective anti-HBs (titer greater than 20 mUI/ml) can be considered as the most effective method to eradicate HBV infection from dialysis centers.