[Demonstration of the interchangeability of 2 types of recombinant anti-hepatitis-B vaccine].

A vaccination cycle cannot always be completed with the same type of vaccine with which it was initiated because the same type of vaccine is not always available at the vaccination centers. For this reason we have verified the possibility of substituting one of two anti hepatitis B DNA-recombinant vaccines [Engerix B (SK&F); Recombivax HB (MSD)] both available in Italy in the vaccination protocol. A study was performed on 480 subjects using both types of DNA recombinant vaccine and on 160 using only one type of vaccine. Our data show that there is no difference in immunogenic potency of the two DNA recombinant vaccines available in Italy and that a cycle begun with one vaccine can be completed with the other with no effect on the percentage of seroconversion or the mean anti-HBs titre.