OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to assess the antibody response to combined passive-active immunization versus active immunization against hepatitis B in 71 patients with acute leukemia with negative hepatitis B virus serology at presentation. METHODS The first group (n=28) received a double dose of hepatitis B vaccine at 0, 1, 2 and 6 months and immunoglobin (HBIG) at 0 and 1 month concu...

Background: Scleroderma is a chronic systemic disorder that affects the connective tissues. It is characterized by several immune manifestations, inflammation, vascular damage, and fibrosis. Some of the viral infections with complex mechanisms are involved in the development and progression of many autoimmune diseases, such as scleroderma. The present study aimed to investigate the serological ...

A 60-year-old woman with end stage liver cirrhosis caused by genotype 2 hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection received an orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). The patient was negative for the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and positive for the anti-hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs) prior to and one and a half months following the OLT. Due to reactivation of hepatitis C, treatment with...

background: hepatitis b is one of the most important etiologic factors of acute and chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis of the liver and hepatocellular carcinoma. the best preventive method is vaccination. the aim of the study was to evaluate the immunization rate against hepatitis b in medical health personnel. materials and methods: this study was conducted on 331 health care workers employed in pub...

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to explore the outcomes and risk factors for hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation after kidney transplantation in occult HBV carriers, who are hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) seronegative and hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb) seropositive before kidney transplantation. METHODS We retrospectively analyzed 322 occult HBV carriers who received kidney tra...

conclusions hepatitis b core antibody immunoglobulin m positivity is different in healthy blood donors of different countries according to the prevalence of chronic hepatitis b and its vaccination. based on the current study findings, all positive samples of hepatitis b core antibody in iranian blood banks should be considered as candidates for occult hepatitis b not just the window period infe...

thimerosal, which is approximately 50% mercury by weight is a preservative widely used in vaccines since the 1930’s. it meets the requirements for a preservative as set forth by pharmacopeia challenge test and has been shown to be effective against a broad spectrum of pathogens. in july 1999, the public health service agencies and vaccine manufacturers agreed that thimerosal should be reduced o...