Intramuscular versus intradermal administration of anti-hepatitis B vaccine in non-cirrhotic hepatitis C patients

Intradermal vaccination has been proposed as an alternative for the administration of anti-hepatitis B vaccine. Patients ( n=66) with chronic viral hepatitis C without cirrhosis were randomised into two groups (intramuscular, n=38; and intradermal, n=28) for prospective immunisation with 20 μg recombinant vaccine, using an ultra-rapid schedule (doses at 0, 15 and 30 days). Sero-conversion (antibody level ≥10 mU/ml) in the intramuscular group was reached by 20, 40 and 72% of patients at days 15, 30 and 60 compared to 4, 8 and 36% for the intradermal group ( P=0.010 at day 60). Additionally, levels rose more rapidly in the intramuscular group ( P=0.004). Our results do not support the use of intradermal route of immunisation against HBV in HCV patients.