Hepatitis B immunization in patients with chronic renal failure

Abstract

Despite the control measures, such as hygiene precautions and segregation of infectious patients in dialysis units as well as immunization of susceptible patients, it has been estimated that in developed countries the prevalence of chronic carriers of the hepatitis B virus among hemodialysis patients is, on average, 3%. An important cause of this unsatisfactory control of HBV infection in hemodialysis units is the suboptimal response to HBV vaccines among chronic kidney failure patients. This concise review highlights the common issues regarding vaccination against hepatitis B in patients on hemodialysis and presents the currently available solutions.