Response to the hepatitis B virus vaccine in haemodialysis patients: influence of malnutrition and its importance as a risk factor for morbidity and mortality

Abstract

Objective: To assess if malnutrition influences the response to the hepatitis B virus vaccine in haemodialysis patients and whether this correlates with morbidity and mortality in these patients.

Design: A 4-year prospective open study.

Setting: Haemodialysis unit of a 434-bed University Hospital.

Patients: Sixty-four patients with end-stage chronic renal failure on maintenance haemodialysis.

Interventions: Three-dose vaccination series with recombinant hepatitis B virus vaccine.

Measurements: Antibody formation against the vaccine, predialysis serum urea, serum albumin and prealbumin, dialysis efficacy (Kt/V), protein catabolic rate (PCR), arm muscle circumference, triceps skinfold, serum parathyroid hormone concentration, mortality and morbidity (hospital days per year of dialysis).

Results: Increase in age negatively influences the formation of antibodies (P = 0.01), whereas serum albumin (P = 0.008) and predialysis blood urea concentration (P = 0.004) are positively correlated with the formation of antibodies. Responders had significantly higher levels of serum albumin and prealbumin and predialysis blood urea than non-responders. The percentage of non-responders was higher (70%) in the group with predialysis blood urea concentration between 90 and 125 mg/dl than in those with predialysis blood urea concentrations between 176 and 225 mg/dl (14.2%). Patients with serum albumin levels between 3 and 3.5 g/dl were non-responders in a higher percentage (87.5%) than those with serum albumin levels between 4.5 and 5 g/dl (18.8%). After a 4-year follow-up, survival was 20% higher in the responder group (P < 0.05). Morbidity, expressed as hospital days per year of haemodialysis, was markedly lower in the responder group (10.4 +/- 2 versus 32 +/- 14 days, P = 0.03).

Conclusions: Malnutrition negatively influences the response to the hepatitis B virus vaccine in haemodialysis patients. Non-responders have higher morbidity and mortality than responders, and therefore the absence of response to the hepatitis B vaccine can be considered as a risk factor in the haemodialysis population.