<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>> Am J Gastroenterol. 2003 Oct;98(10):2289-92 Hepatitis B vaccine nonresponse and celiac disease. Noh KW, Poland GA, Murray JA. Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA There is a genetic predisposition to hepatitis B vaccine nonresponse. The link between human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genotype and ineffective development of immunity to the hepatitis B vaccine has been characterized in multiple studies. Celiac disease has a strong association with a particular HLA genotype of DQ2; interestingly, this HLA genotype is seen in association with nonresponders to the hepatitis B vaccine. We report a disproportionate number of patients with celiac disease who are nonresponders to the hepatitis B vaccine series.We reviewed the hepatitis B vaccine records, serological tests for anti-hepatitis B surface antigen antibody (anti-HBs), and HLA genotypes of celiac disease patients identified as nonresponders to hepatitis B vaccine. Subjects were identified from a database of patients diagnosed with celiac disease at our institution or referred to our center for evaluation and management of celiac disease between November, 2000, and October, 2002.A total of 23 subjects were reviewed. All had a clinical and pathological diagnosis of celiac disease. All subjects reported receiving the full series of hepatitis B vaccinations. Of the subjects, 19 had testing for hepatitis B vaccine response. Of these 19 subjects, 13 did not achieve long-term immunity as seen by the negative qualitative or quantitative anti-HBs antibody titer. All tested subjects were either homozygous or heterozygous for DQ2.We postulate that celiac disease patients may have a significant predisposition to hepatitis B vaccine nonresponse. Both celiac disease and hepatitis B vaccine nonresponse is genetically mediated. Celiac disease patients may have a failure of induction of humoral immune response needed for development of long term immunity; the mechanism for this is unclear. PMID: 14572581 [PubMed - in process] * Please include your location in all posts about products *