Turkish Archives of Pediatrics
Original Article

Hepatitis B Vaccination in Children With Ongoing Cancer Treatment: A Safety and Efficacy Study of Super-Accelerated Vaccination Scheme

1.

Department of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Istanbul University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey

2.

Department of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, University of Health Sciences, Sisli Research and Training Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey

3.

Department of Social Pediatrics, Istanbul University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey

Turk Arch Pediatr 2021; 56: 469-473
DOI: 10.5152/TurkArchPediatr.2021.21090
Read: 1031 Downloads: 472 Published: 01 September 2021

Objective: Children with cancer have an increased risk for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections due to chemotherapy-induced secondary immunodeficiency and frequent blood transfusions. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of hepatitis B vaccination during the intensive induction chemotherapy in children with cancer found to be seronegative for hepatitis B on admission. 

Materials and Methods: Children newly diagnosed with cancer were evaluated for the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibody on admission. The children negative for both were included in the study. A super-accelerated vaccination scheme (3 booster doses at days 1-5, 8-12, and 28-33) was administered to these seronegative children concurrently with induction chemotherapy. Antibody response was checked 4-8 weeks after the last vaccination and 6 months after the end of the treatment. 

Results: Eleven out of 122 children were seronegative for hepatitis B on admission (9%). Acute lymphoblastic leukemia, lymphoma, and solid tumors were diagnosed in 5, 4, and 2 children, respectively. Complete seroconversion was achieved in 4-8 weeks after the last vaccination with high titers of anti-HBs antibody, and all patients remained antibody-positive until 6 months after the completion of chemotherapy.

Conclusion: The risk of transfusion-related infections increases with a number of transfused products and donor exposures, and it is more significant for immunosuppressed children with hematologic and oncologic malignancies. Hepatitis B vaccination could safely be applied with brisk and sustained responses in this vulnerable population, based on the local epidemiological data.

Cite this article as: Ocak S, Karaman S, Vural S, et al. Hepatitis B vaccination in children with ongoing cancer treatment: A safety and efficacy study of super-accelerated vaccination scheme. Turk Arch Pediatr. 2021; 56(5): 469-473.

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