Background: Clinical guidelines recommend double-dose hepatitis B vaccination for patients requiring dialysis, due to an increased risk of hepatitis B infection and reduced vaccine responsiveness. There are no recommendations for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) prior to dialysis. Methods: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized and quasi-randomized trials comparing efficacy (seroresponses) and harms of double-dose compared with standard-dose hepatitis B vaccination in patients with CKD, including those requiring dialysis. A systematic literature search (CENTRAL, MEDLINE and EMBASE) was performed using a predetermined search strategy. Relative risks were calculated from pooled data using a random-effects model with subgroup analysis by dialysis requirement and vaccine type. Results: Seven studies (501 patients) fulfilled review criteria: four in patients receiving dialysis and three in patients not receiving dialysis. The incidence of seroconversion was not increased with double-dose vaccination overall [risk ratio (RR) 1.17, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.98-1.39], by dialysis requirement or vaccine type. The incidence of seroprotection (reported by only four studies) was increased with double-dose vaccination overall (RR 1.53, 95% CI 1.17-2.00) but not by dialysis requirement. Adverse events were not reported by treatment arm, precluding comparison. The overall quality of included studies was moderate to low. Conclusions: The current data do not support clinical guideline recommendations for administering double-dose vaccination for patients with CKD as seroconversion was not improved and seroprotection was inadequately assessed. Large high-quality studies are required to overcome the current evidence gap regarding vaccine dosing in CKD.
- All age groups
- Administration
- Efficacy/effectiveness
- Safety
- Hepatitis B
