Prophylaxis of hepatitis B in children treated for ALL

INTRODUCTION: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common cancer in childhood. Immunodeficiency occurs very often during ALL treatment. Therefore, patients are susceptible to various infections (including hepatitis B). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study group consisted of 66 children with ALL treated at the Department of Pediatric, Hematology and Oncology in Zabrze. Patients were divided into two groups with regard to active HBV prophylaxis before diagnosis. Group I included 22 patients who were vaccinated before diagnosis. Group II included 44 patients who were not vaccinated before diagnosis. After diagnosis active, passive and/or active-passive prophylaxis were administered to the patients. RESULTS: In most patients, the anti-HBV titers were protective after ALL treatment completion. In the remaining children, with anti-HBV titers < 100 IU/ml, the HBV prophylaxis was also successful, because none of them experienced de novo HBV infection. CONCLUSIONS: Despite various models of HBV prophylaxis, the protection from new infection was effective in all children treated for ALL.