Research Article

Evaluation of Hepatitis B Vaccination Coverage and Serological Response in People Living with HIV

Volume: 28 Number: 2 August 21, 2026

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

The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Ankara Training and Research Hospital (E-24-292,07.11.2024).

References

  1. Platt L, French CE, McGowan CR, Sabin K, Gower E, Trickey A, et al. Prevalence and burden of HBV co-infection among people living with HIV: a global systematic review and meta-analysis. J Viral Hepat. 2020;27(3):294-315. doi:10.1111/jvh.13217.
  2. Peng A, Wang L, Waleed K, Qiu L, Tong X, Tu Z, et al. The prognosis characteristics of HIV/HBV co-infection after antiviral therapy: a comprehensive review. Infect Agent Cancer. 2026;21(1):15. doi:10.1186/s13027-025-00724-5.
  3. Xu M, Warner C, Duan X, Cheng Z, Jeyarajan AJ, Li W, et al. HIV coinfection exacerbates HBV-induced liver fibrogenesis through a HIF-1α- and TGF-β1-dependent pathway. J Hepatol. 2024;80(6):868-81. doi:10.1016/j.jhep.2024.01.026.
  4. Kolakowska A, Marshall E, Krastinova E, Cros A, Duvivier C, Leroy P, et al. Insufficient vaccine coverage and vaccine hesitancy in people living with HIV: A prospective study in outpatient clinics in the Paris region. Vaccine. 2024;42(17):3655-63. doi:10.1016/j.vaccine.2024.04.077.
  5. Garcia A, Vigil KJ, Taylor B, Kshirsagar O, Thamer M, Jain MK. Persistent low prevalence of hepatitis B vaccination among people with HIV: Time for a change? J Viral Hepat. 2023;30(10):790-2. doi:10.1111/jvh.13868.
  6. Ambrosioni J, Levi LI, Alagaratnam J, Sempere A, Mastrangelo A, Paioni P, et al. Major revision version 13.0 of the European AIDS Clinical Society guidelines 2025. HIV Med. 2026;27(1):18-32. doi:10.1111/hiv.70120.
  7. Tian Y, Hua W, Wu Y, Zhang T, Wang W, Wu H, et al. Immune response to Hepatitis B virus vaccine among people living with HIV: a meta-analysis. Front Immunol. 2021;12:745541. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2021.745541.
  8. Corcorran MA, Kim HN. Strategies for Hepatitis B virus prevention in people living with HIV. Curr HIV/AIDS Rep. 2023;20(6):451-7. doi:10.1007/s11904-023-00670-0.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Infectious Diseases

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

August 21, 2026

Submission Date

March 16, 2026

Acceptance Date

August 16, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 28 Number: 2

APA
Üçer, S., Gürkaynak, P., Gümüş, U. E., Altun, M. S., Demircan, Ş. A., Kaya Kılıç, E., Ataman Hatipoglu, C., Tuncer Ertem, G., Cesur, S., & Kınıklı, S. (2026). Evaluation of Hepatitis B Vaccination Coverage and Serological Response in People Living with HIV. Duzce Medical Journal, 28(2), 207-211. https://doi.org/10.18678/dtfd.1910893
AMA
1.Üçer S, Gürkaynak P, Gümüş UE, et al. Evaluation of Hepatitis B Vaccination Coverage and Serological Response in People Living with HIV. Duzce Med J. 2026;28(2):207-211. doi:10.18678/dtfd.1910893
Chicago
Üçer, Sengül, Pınar Gürkaynak, Uğur Emre Gümüş, et al. 2026. “Evaluation of Hepatitis B Vaccination Coverage and Serological Response in People Living With HIV”. Duzce Medical Journal 28 (2): 207-11. https://doi.org/10.18678/dtfd.1910893.
EndNote
Üçer S, Gürkaynak P, Gümüş UE, Altun MS, Demircan ŞA, Kaya Kılıç E, Ataman Hatipoglu C, Tuncer Ertem G, Cesur S, Kınıklı S (August 1, 2026) Evaluation of Hepatitis B Vaccination Coverage and Serological Response in People Living with HIV. Duzce Medical Journal 28 2 207–211.
IEEE
[1]S. Üçer et al., “Evaluation of Hepatitis B Vaccination Coverage and Serological Response in People Living with HIV”, Duzce Med J, vol. 28, no. 2, pp. 207–211, Aug. 2026, doi: 10.18678/dtfd.1910893.
ISNAD
Üçer, Sengül - Gürkaynak, Pınar - Gümüş, Uğur Emre - Altun, Melek Sena - Demircan, Şerife Altun - Kaya Kılıç, Esra - Ataman Hatipoglu, Cigdem - Tuncer Ertem, Gunay - Cesur, Salih - Kınıklı, Sami. “Evaluation of Hepatitis B Vaccination Coverage and Serological Response in People Living With HIV”. Duzce Medical Journal 28/2 (August 1, 2026): 207-211. https://doi.org/10.18678/dtfd.1910893.
JAMA
1.Üçer S, Gürkaynak P, Gümüş UE, Altun MS, Demircan ŞA, Kaya Kılıç E, Ataman Hatipoglu C, Tuncer Ertem G, Cesur S, Kınıklı S. Evaluation of Hepatitis B Vaccination Coverage and Serological Response in People Living with HIV. Duzce Med J. 2026;28:207–211.
MLA
Üçer, Sengül, et al. “Evaluation of Hepatitis B Vaccination Coverage and Serological Response in People Living With HIV”. Duzce Medical Journal, vol. 28, no. 2, Aug. 2026, pp. 207-11, doi:10.18678/dtfd.1910893.
Vancouver
1.Sengül Üçer, Pınar Gürkaynak, Uğur Emre Gümüş, Melek Sena Altun, Şerife Altun Demircan, Esra Kaya Kılıç, Cigdem Ataman Hatipoglu, Gunay Tuncer Ertem, Salih Cesur, Sami Kınıklı. Evaluation of Hepatitis B Vaccination Coverage and Serological Response in People Living with HIV. Duzce Med J. 2026 Aug. 1;28(2):207-11. doi:10.18678/dtfd.1910893