Research in Medicine

Background : Hepatitis B can be easily transmitted form mother to child and can be prevented via vaccination of the newborn. American Academy of Pediatrics recommends preterm infants weighing less than 2000 grams at birth and born to HBS-Ag negative mothers should have their first dose of hepatitis B vaccine moved up to 1 month of age. The aim of the present study was to assess and compare the immune response of preterm and term infants to hepatitis B vaccine.

Materials and methods : For this case-control study, 48 preterm (cases) and 49 term (controls) neonates were enrolled. The vaccine was administered at birth, 1.5 and 9 months of age. Antibodies against surface antigen (Anti-HBS) were measured at 15 months of age in all infants.

Results : Cases were 24 boys and 24 girls and controls were 26 boys and 23 girls. The mean birth weight was 1595.7 ± 388.3 and 3238.8±511.9gr in the case and control group, respectively. Immune response to HB vaccine was protective and similar in both preterm and term groups (85.4% vs. 85.7%, respectively NS). There was no significant association between the type of response and the infant’s birth weight or sex. However, there was a significant relation between antibody titer and mechanical ventilation and sepsis (p=0.01).

 Conclusion : Hepatitis B vaccine is effective in most preterm infants when given at birth. Thus, there is no need to delay the timing of vaccination.