Hepatitis B prevalence and immunoprophylaxis with hepatitis B immunoglobulins in patients, relatives, and staff of a paediatric haemodialysis unit.

ABSTRACT

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers have been studied for 22 months in 16 haemodialysed patients, 60 relatives and 17 staff members of a paediatric haemodialysis unit, and in 9 children with chronic renal failure on conservative therapy. None of the 8 children negative for HBV markers and treated with specific immunoglobulins (HBIG) developed signs of hepatitis B. No hepatitis B occurred in 4 staff members after accidental infected needle prick and immunoprophylaxis, although one of them developed passive-active immunity. The immunoprophylaxis effectively prevented diffusion of HBV also in the relatives. Furthermore, HBsAg and HBeAg were found in urine samples of haemodialysed children with residual diuresis.