Efficacy of Hepatitis B Virus Vaccines HBVaxpro40© and Fendrix© in Patients With Chronic Liver Disease in Clinical Practice.

Background: Cirrhotic patients have an increased risk of infections. In these patients is important to prevent hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, as it may cause a deterioration of liver function. However, HBV vaccine efficacy in this group of patients is lower than in healthy population. Despite increasing standard doses to double doses or administering an accelerated pattern, the response to HBV vaccination remains suboptimal. For this reason, an alternative strategy may be using vaccines with novel adjuvants such as Fendrix® or the recombinant vaccine HBVAXPRO®.

Aim: To assess the adjuvanted HBV vaccine (Fendrix ®) efficacy in patients with chronic liver disease and to understand the kinetics of anti-HBs titers over time in patients who respond to vaccination.

Methods: Prospective and multicenter study. Serological markers of HBV will be assessed prospectively in consecutive patients with non-cirrhotic liver disease (permanent abnormal liver blood tests > six months; elastogram ≥8 kilopascal (kPa); serum markers of fibrosis (APRI or FIB-4 ≥ F2); ultrasound changes suggesting chronic liver disease) and cirrhotic patients (diagnosed by liver biopsy and/or non-invasive methods: clinical, blood tests and ultrasound). Seronegative patients will receive four doses of Fendrix ® at 0,1, 2 and 6 months. Antibodies against HBV superficial antigen (anti-HBs) will be determined at 2 months +/- 10 days, six months and one year after having received the fourth dose of the vaccine (to see kinetics). The study will differentiate between responders and non-responders to the vaccine: adequate immunity to HBV will be defined as anti-HBs higher than > 10mUI/mL (standard definition of seroconversion) and> 100mUI/mL. Investigators will evaluate the factors that influence the response, kinetics and safety of the vaccination in patients with chronic liver disease and cirrhosis.