Evaluation of Hepatitis B Vaccination Coverage and Serological Response in People Living with HIV
Abstract
Aim: People living with HIV (PLWH) face a heightened risk of acquiring hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection because these two viruses share common transmission pathways. HIV/HBV coinfection is associated with accelerated liver disease progression. Consequently, hepatitis B vaccination is a critical preventive measure for PLWH. This study was designed to assess the serological response to hepatitis B vaccination in PLWH.
Material and Methods: PLWH followed at the Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology Clinic who were seronegative for HBsAg, anti-HBs, and anti-HBc IgG were retrospectively identified. Anti-HBs levels measured 1 month to 1 year after the final vaccine dose were assessed. Criteria associated with low response (anti-HBs titer: <100 mIU/mL) and high response (≥100 mIU/mL) were also evaluated.
Results: A total of 54 patients were included in the final analysis. The median age was 43 (range, 22–80) years and 25.9% of the patients were female. Forty-nine patients (90.7%) had anti-HBs levels ≥10 mIU/mL. Anti-HBs levels ≥100 mIU/mL were observed in 10 (28.6%) patients who had received at least one double-dose vaccination versus 3 (15.8%) patients who had not (p=0.341), and in 18 (51.4%) patients with undetectable HIV RNA versus 5 (26.3%) patients with detectable HIV RNA (p=0.091), without reaching statistical significance.
Conclusion: Adherence to the hepatitis B vaccination schedule was found to be suboptimal. Identifying the underlying causes of poor vaccination adherence and implementing strategies to improve compliance are essential in PLWH.
Keywords
Ethical Statement
References
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Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Infectious Diseases
Journal Section
Research Article
Authors
Sengül Üçer
*
0000-0002-1764-3198
Türkiye
Pınar Gürkaynak
0000-0001-8863-8268
Türkiye
Uğur Emre Gümüş
0009-0009-4681-9568
Türkiye
Melek Sena Altun
0000-0002-5612-7305
Türkiye
Esra Kaya Kılıç
0000-0002-3270-4841
Türkiye
Salih Cesur
0000-0003-4960-7375
Türkiye
Sami Kınıklı
0000-0002-9661-7851
Türkiye
Publication Date
August 21, 2026
Submission Date
March 16, 2026
Acceptance Date
August 16, 2026
Published in Issue
Year 2026 Volume: 28 Number: 2
