Marcadores serológicos de hepatitis B en niños adoptados de Rusia y Ucrania / HEPATITIS B SEROLOGICAL MARKERS IN CHILDREN ADOPTED FROM RUSSIA AND UKRAINE

Objective To determine the prevalence of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and to verify the immunization status against HBV of children adopted from Russia and Ukraine. Patients and methods Cohort study of 102 children (58.8 % boys) adopted from Russia (90) and Ukraine (12) between 2002 and 2007. All children had medical records that certified they had received 3 doses of HBV vaccine from the birth country. They were evaluated within 2 weeks of their arrival (mean age of 28.3 months; range, 12 to 88 months) according to a standard protocol that includes the hepatitis B serological markers, surface antigen (HBsAg), core antibody (HBcAb), and surface antibody (HBsAb). Results All children were negative for HBsAg and HBcAb (prevalence of active or previous HBV infection, 0 %), and 78 (76.5 %) showed a protective antibody response (HBsAb ≥ 10 mIU/ml) due to HBV vaccination. The results are contrasted with those observed by other researchers. Conclusions We show that children adopted from Russia and Ukraine have a relatively high prevalence of protective immunity due to effective HBV vaccination. Therefore, we recommended determining the 3 serological markers for HBV (HBsAg, HBcAb, and HBsAb). Using this, we may detect an active infection or other infection risks, and we know the immunization status. Thus we can assess the need for retest, and provide criteria for individualized vaccinations, which could avoid generalized HBV vaccination in this specific population of internationally adopted children.