Immunogenicity of the Hepatitis B Vaccine

September 4, 2020 updated by: Karlla Antonieta Amorim Caetano, Universidade Federal de Goias

Immunogenicity of the Hepatitis B Vaccine in Individuals 50 Years Old or More: Randomized Clinical Trial

More than five decades have passed since the identification of the etiologic agent of hepatitis B and yet this infection is a challenge for public health worldwide. The development and availability of the first hepatitis B vaccines, still in the 1980s, was a milestone for the prevention of the hepatitis B virus, and currently known as the gold standard strategy for the elimination of this infectious disease.

In several countries, the introduction of the immunobiological occurred gradually, by age groups and risk groups, and in general, started with newborns and children. This universal immunization strategy has contributed to reducing the incidence and changing the epidemiological profile of HBV worldwide. At the beginning of the 21st century, it was already possible to shift the epidemiological curve of the infection to parasitize with 50 years or more. On the other hand, despite vaccination against hepatitis B being the most assertive tool for the prevention of HBV, the low performance of the vaccine in older groups remains a challenge for public health and the object of this study. To our knowledge, there are no data showing the efficacy of doses of enhanced hepatitis B vaccines for older adults, and the purpose of this study is to investigate and compare the immunogenicity of the hepatitis B vaccine in adult adults aged 50 years and over, using conventional doses (20μg) versus (vs) booster doses.

Study Overview

Detailed Description

More than five decades have passed since the identification of the etiologic agent of hepatitis B and yet this infection is a challenge for public health worldwide. The development and availability of the first hepatitis B vaccines, still in the 1980s, was a milestone for the prevention of the hepatitis B virus, and currently known as the gold standard strategy for the elimination of this infectious disease.

In several countries, the introduction of the immunobiological occurred gradually, by age groups and risk groups, and in general, started with newborns and children. In Brazil, only in 2015, a free offer of the hepatitis B vaccine expanded a population aged 50 years or older. This universal immunization strategy has contributed to reducing the incidence and changing the epidemiological profile of HBV worldwide. At the beginning of the 21st century, it was already possible to shift the epidemiological curve of the infection to parasitize with 50 years or more.

Consider this scenario of vulnerability to HBV in older adults, it is important to highlight some aspects. The increase in life expectancy around the world is real data and must be evaluated. In addition, contemporary aging is accompanied by an increase and improvement in sexual performance, overcoming myths about "asexual old age" and outdated stereotypes about sexuality for an adult population in the middle and late stages. On the other hand, sexual risk behavior in older people being observed, including unprotected sexual intercourse, multiple sexual partnerships, sexual intercourse with a sex worker, among others. Studies have been increasing the high prevalence of Sexually Transmitted Infections, especially hepatitis B in the elderly.

Given this situation, hepatitis B vaccination is the most assertive tool for preventing HBV. However, even in countries that expand the offer of the vaccine to the entire population, poor performance of the hepatitis B vaccine in older groups remains a challenge for public health and is the object of this study.

A study conducted by Meeren and collaborators, characterized the relationship age vs. age. vaccine response to hepatitis B in immunocompetent adults. The protection index identified, considering all age groups, was 94.5%. However, there was a continuous reduction in seroprotection associated with age, ranging from 98.6% for young adults aged 20-24 years to 64.8% for the elderly (≥65 years). In addition, this study suggested that the aging of the immune system starts in adulthood and is intensified after 50-60 years of age.

In the United States, research conducted with competence aged ≥50 years, showed lower rates of seroconversion compared to younger people, with protection rates ranging from 68% to 82.2%. Another study carried out in this country, elucidated the risk of non-response to the anti-HBV vaccine in 63% for products ≥40 years old (p = 0.046).

Finally, in Brazil, an investigation conducted by Caetano et al. with settlers in Goiás, also illustrated a low responsiveness to the hepatitis B vaccine in the older population. In the age group aged 40-49 years, seroprotection was identified in only 61.9% of the participants, and for the age group aged 50-59 years the rate of seroresponse was even lower, only 55.9% protective titles of anti- HBs. Another study with this same population in Mato Grosso do Sul, showed an average age above 40 years for our non-responders.

Thus, the program that supplants this limitation is necessary, until the cohort of children immunized at birth from a late adulthood. The use of third generation vaccines for this population seems to be difficult to implement due to the high cost of this immunogen. In this way, more frequent or more concentrated doses of the second generation vaccine can be a safe alternative for the older population.

To our knowledge, there are no data showing the efficacy of doses of enhanced hepatitis B vaccines for older adults, and the purpose of this study is to investigate and compare the immunogenicity of the hepatitis B vaccine in adult adults aged 50 years and over, using conventional doses (20μg) versus (vs) booster doses.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

240

Phase

  • Phase 4

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

    • Goiás
      • Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil, 74605-080
        • Karlla Antonieta Amorim Caetano

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

50 years and older (ADULT, OLDER_ADULT)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • person is 50 years of age or older.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • people with chronic renal failure, cancer and HIV / AIDS, using corticosteroids;
  • people with a history of hepatitis B vaccination (vaccination record of hepatitis B vaccine doses or previous report of hepatitis B vaccination);
  • people who are positive for anti-HBs and / or total anti-HBc serological markers.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: PREVENTION
  • Allocation: RANDOMIZED
  • Interventional Model: PARALLEL
  • Masking: SINGLE

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
OTHER: Standard vaccination schedule
To evaluate the immunogenicity of the monovalent hepatitis B vaccine, expressed in Hansenula polymorpha, aged ≥50 years old, using a standard vaccination schedule (three doses of 20 μg, in months 0, 1, 6).
Administer a standard vaccination schedule (three doses of 20 μg of the hepatitis B vaccine, in months 0, 1, 6) at an age of ≥50 years and evaluate a production kinetics after each dose administered in the period of about 30 to 60 days.
EXPERIMENTAL: Reinforced vaccination schedule
To evaluate the immunogenicity of the monovalent hepatitis B vaccine, expressed in Hansenula polymorpha, in individuals aged ≥50 years, using a reinforced vaccination schedule (three doses of 40 μg, in months 0, 1, 6).
Administer an enhanced vaccination schedule (three doses of 40 μg of the hepatitis B vaccine, in months 0, 1, 6) in individuals aged ≥50 years and assess the kinetics of antibody production after each dose administered in the period of approximately 30 to 60 days.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
More than 90% of the appropriate intervention sample of associated anti-HBs (≥10mUI / mL) after three doses of hepatitis B vaccine
Time Frame: Success of the proposed procedure, defined by the development of isolated anti-HBs titers (≥10mUI / mL) after three reinforced doses (40μg) of the hepatitis B vaccine, in 30 to 60 days after the end of the vaccination schedule.
Success of the proposed procedure, defined by the development of isolated anti-HBs titers (≥10mUI / mL) after three reinforced doses (40μg) of the hepatitis B vaccine, within 30 to 60 days after the end of the vaccination schedule.
Success of the proposed procedure, defined by the development of isolated anti-HBs titers (≥10mUI / mL) after three reinforced doses (40μg) of the hepatitis B vaccine, in 30 to 60 days after the end of the vaccination schedule.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
About 20-30% of the appropriate intervention sample of associated anti-HBs (≥10mUI / mL) after first dose of hepatitis B vaccine
Time Frame: Success of the proposed procedure, defined by the development of isolated anti-HBs titers (≥10mUI / mL) after one reinforced dose (40μg) of the hepatitis B vaccine, within 30 to 60 days after the end of the vaccination schedule.
Success of the proposed procedure, defined by the development of isolated anti-HBs titers (≥10mUI / mL) after one reinforced dose (40μg) of the hepatitis B vaccine, within 30 to 60 days after the end of the vaccination schedule.
Success of the proposed procedure, defined by the development of isolated anti-HBs titers (≥10mUI / mL) after one reinforced dose (40μg) of the hepatitis B vaccine, within 30 to 60 days after the end of the vaccination schedule.
About 75-80% of the appropriate intervention sample of associated anti-HBs (≥10mUI / mL) after second dose of hepatitis B vaccine
Time Frame: Success of the proposed procedure, defined by the development of isolated anti-HBs titers (≥10mUI / mL) after two reinforced doses (40μg) of the hepatitis B vaccine, within 30 to 60 days after the end of the vaccination schedule.
Success of the proposed procedure, defined by the development of isolated anti-HBs titers (≥10mUI / mL) after two reinforced doses (40μg) of the hepatitis B vaccine, within 30 to 60 days after the end of the vaccination schedule.
Success of the proposed procedure, defined by the development of isolated anti-HBs titers (≥10mUI / mL) after two reinforced doses (40μg) of the hepatitis B vaccine, within 30 to 60 days after the end of the vaccination schedule.

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Karlla Caetano, PhD, Universidade Federal de Goias

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (ACTUAL)

July 29, 2017

Primary Completion (ACTUAL)

July 3, 2020

Study Completion (ANTICIPATED)

March 31, 2022

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

August 31, 2020

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 31, 2020

First Posted (ACTUAL)

September 7, 2020

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (ACTUAL)

September 9, 2020

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 4, 2020

Last Verified

September 1, 2020

More Information

Terms related to this study

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Clinical Trials on Hepatitis B

Clinical Trials on Standard vaccination schedule

3
Subscribe