Hepatitis Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Hepatitis, including details on hepatitis a, b, c, causes, symptoms.

Impact of hepatitis B vaccination in a highly endemic area of south Italy and long-term duration of anti-HBs antibody in two cohorts of vaccinated individuals.

Da Villa G, Romanò L, Sepe A, Iorio R, Paribello N, Zappa A, Zanetti AR

Italian Institute for Prevention of Liver Diseases, Naples, Italy.

The aims of this study were to evaluate the impact of hepatitis B vaccination on the changing pattern of HBV infection in a former hyperendemic area (Afragola, South Italy), and to assess the long-term persistence of anti-HBs in two cohorts of individuals vaccinated as infants 18 and 23 years ago. Our data shows a significant decline in the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers in the general population from 1978 to 2006 (HBsAg: 13.4% versus 0.91%; anti-HBc: 66.9% versus 7.6%; p<0.001). Data from two cohorts of vaccinees provides further evidence regarding the long-term persistence of vaccine-induced anti-HBs. Data here reported indicates that the implementation of vaccination had a great impact in the control and prevention of hepatitis B in Italy.

Published 2 April 2007 in Vaccine, 25(16): 3133-6.
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