Influence of universal HBV vaccination on chronic HBV infection in Italy: Results of a cross‐sectional multicenter study. Issue 12 (29th August 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sagnelli, Evangelista; Stroffolini, Tommaso; Sagnelli, Caterina; Morisco, Filomena; Coppola, Nicola; Smedile, Antonina; Pisaturo, Mariantonietta; Colloredo, Guido; Babudieri, Sergio; Licata, Anna; Brancaccio, Giuseppina; Andriulli, Angelo; Almasio, Piero L.; Gaeta, Giovani B.
• Is Part Of: Journal of medical virology. Volume 89:Issue 12(2017)
• Page Start: 2138
• Page End: 2143
• Publication Date: 2017-08-29
• Subjects: chronic hepatitis B -- HBsAg chronic carriers -- HBsAg‐positive chronic hepatitis -- HBsAg‐positive chronic hepatitis clinical presentation -- HBV vaccination; Virology -- Periodicals; 616
• DOI: 10.1002/jmv.24873
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0146-6615

Abstract

Abstract : Background and Aim: The universal hepatitis B vaccination for infants and 12‐year‐old adolescents (the latter limited to the first 12 years of application) was launched in Italy in 1991. Twenty‐three years later we evaluated the impact of the vaccination campaign on the burden of HBsAg‐positive chronic liver diseases (CLD). Material and Methods: A total of 513 HBsAg‐positive chronic carriers referring to 16 Italian liver units were investigated and compared with HBsAg carriers enrolled in previous surveys. Results: The proportion of inactive carriers decreased from 20.0% in 2001 to 3.3% in 2014, while that of cirrhotic patients increased from 22.6% to 33.2%. Regarding the age class 0‐33 (fully covered by HBV vaccination in 2014), the rate of inactive carriers decreased from the 21.7% in 2001 to 5.9% in 2014, that of chronic hepatitis from 17.5% to 5.2% and that of cirrhosis cases from 26.4% to 4.1%. Instead, in the over‐60 age group the rate of inactive carriers increased from 22.8% to 41.2% and that of chronic hepatitis from 16.8% to 46%; the rate of patients with cirrhosis ranged from 5% to 8% in different studies. Conclusion: Twenty‐three years after the introduction universal HBV vaccination in Italy, the clinical presentation of CLD had shown a shift toward older ages and more severe diseases.