TURKISH JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY, cilt.22, sa.1, ss.27-31, 2011 (SCI-Expanded)
Background/aims: We aimed to compare the response rates to hepatitis B virus vaccination in the first year of life, using two different immunization protocols, in children with celiac disease. Methods: Study Group 1 included patients with celiac disease who received 10 mu g of hepatitis B vaccine intramuscularly at birth (0), 2 and 9-12 months of life. Group 2 included those who received hepatitis B vaccine at 0, 1 and 6 months of life. Healthy children were divided into two control groups according to the above schedules. Results: The total study group included 64 patients and 49 healthy controls. Celiac patients were found to have lower response rates with respect to controls (78.1% vs. 95.9%, respectively). The difference in response rates in the two patient groups was not statistically significant. Conclusions: The response rates of celiac patients to the two different hepatitis B vaccination schedules showed no statistically significant difference.