Hepatitis A vaccine is the most frequently used traveller's vaccine, yet data on its ability to induce protective immunity in immunosuppressed travellers are scarce. The investigators assess the hepatitis A virus (HAV) antibody response in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treated with Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) - inhibitors and/or methotrexate (Mtx).
Methods: Parameters registered at baseline were: age, sex, duration of disease, medications, activity of disease (Visual Analogue Scale=VAS, Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index = HAQ, Disease Activity Score =DAS-28, CRP and total IgG in plasma). Hepatitis A vaccine (Epaxal or Havrix) were given at 0 and 6 months. Hepatitis A virus (HAV) antibodies is measured before vaccination and at month 1, 6 (before dose 2), 7 and 12 with quantitative HAV IgG, using the HAVAb-IgG Architect System, and by the HAVAB 2.0 assay on the AxSYM machine from Abbott. The level of protective immunity to HAV is defined as HAV IgG \> 10mIU/mL.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
68
1.0 ml im ( Havrix) and 0.5 ml im (Epaxal. Both vaccines are given two times with 6 months interval
Dept infectious diseases
Helsingfors, Finland
Dept infectious diseases
Eskilstuna, Sweden
Dept infectious diseases
Karlstad, Sweden
Department of infectious diseases
Stockholm, Sweden
seroconversion after a single dose of hepatitis A vaccine
ELISA-titers are determined before first dose and at 1 and 6 months later
Time frame: one month after dose
seroconversion rates after a second dose of hepatitis A vaccine
We determine seroconversion rates before the second vaccine dose ( 6 months after the first) and at 1 and 6 months after the second dose
Time frame: 12 monrths
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