Hepatitis B vaccination in patients with chronic hepatitis B

ISRCTN ISRCTN47278669
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN47278669
Secondary identifying numbers UW 15-106
Submission date
27/04/2016
Registration date
27/04/2016
Last edited
23/10/2017
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Infections and Infestations
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data
Record updated in last year

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
Hepatitis B is a liver infection caused by a virus. The surface antigen is the part of the hepatitis B virus that is found in the blood of someone who is infected. Hepatitis B carriers who no longer have the surface antigen in their blood have a better prognosis. Nevertheless, they are still at risk of developing a flare up of hepatitis B, acute liver failure, cirrhosis (scarring of the liver) and hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer). We therefore would like to evaluate the effect and safety of treatment with imiquimod ointment before hepatitis B vaccination in patients who have lost their surface antigens.

Who can participate?
Patients aged 18 or over who have lost their surface antigens during follow-up of chronic hepatitis B infection

What does the study involve?
Participants are randomly allocated to receive either three doses of hepatitis B vaccine or a placebo (dummy) vaccine at 0, 1 and 6 months. Participants are also randomly allocated into three groups. Group 1 is treated with an imiquimod ointment before intradermal vaccination (into the skin). Group 2 is treated with an imiquimod ointment before intramuscular vaccination (into the muscle). Group 3 is treated with a cream before intradermal vaccination (into the skin).

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
The potential benefit is that the participants may be cured of their hepatitis B carrier status and successfully mount an antibody response against hepatitis B. The risks are local side effects of pain and swelling over the vaccination site. Patients who do not receive the vaccine might not be able to mount an immune response against hepatitis B.

Where is the study run from?
Queen Mary Hospital (Hong Kong)

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
April 2016 to March 2018

Who is funding the study?
University of Hong Kong

Who is the main contact?
Prof Ivan Hung

Contact information

Prof Ivan FN Hung
Public

Administration Block 808
Queen Mary Hospital
102 Pokfulam Road
Hong Kong
na
Hong Kong

Study information

Study designDouble-blind randomised controlled trial
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)Hospital
Study typeTreatment
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet
Scientific titleA double-blind randomized controlled trial of hepatitis B vaccination with topical imiquimod in subjects with occult hepatitis B
Study objectivesThe objective of this prospective double-blind randomized controlled trial is to evaluate the effect and safety of topical treatment with imiquimod immediately before intradermal vaccination with Sci-B-Vac™ in patients with occult hepatitis B (OBI). Our a priori hypothesis is that imiquimod pretreatment would improve immune responses to Sci-B-Vac™ further in OBI patients, resulting in HBsAb conversion, thereby preventing subsequent complications including flare of hepatitis, cirrhosis and HCC in these patients.
Ethics approval(s)Institutional Review Board of the University of Hong Kong/Hospital Authority Hong Kong West Cluster (HKU/HA HKW IRB), 11/03/2015, IRB Reference Number: UW 15-106
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedPatients with occult hepatitis B (OBI) as defined by chronic hepatitis B carrier, with documented loss of HBsAg, negative anti-HBs, positive anti-HBc and negative HBV DNA.
InterventionRecruited patients will be randomised into 3 groups in the ratio of 1:1:1. Each patient will receive a 3-dose Sci-B-Vac™ regime or placebo at 0, 1 and 6 months. Group 1 will receive a total of 10μg intradermal HBsAg each time with topical imiquimod ointment pretreatment; Group 2 will receive a total of 10μg intramuscular HBsAg each time with topical imiquimod ointment pretreatment; Group 3 will receive a total of 10μg intradermal HBsAg each time with topical aqueous cream pretreatment.
Intervention typeBiological/Vaccine
Pharmaceutical study type(s)
Phase
Drug / device / biological / vaccine name(s)
Primary outcome measurePercentage of patients with anti-HBs antibody titre ≥10 IU/L at 12 months
Secondary outcome measures1. Seroconversion and seroprotection rate at 1, 6 and 12 months after the first first dose of vaccination
2. The GMT fold increase at 1, 6 and 12 months
3. Safety and side effects after vaccination
Overall study start date30/04/2016
Completion date31/03/2018

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
Lower age limit18 Years
SexBoth
Target number of participants100
Key inclusion criteria1. Subjects recruited have to be aged ≥18 years with no history of previous hepatitis B vaccination, with documentation of loss of HBsAg without anti-HBs production during follow-up of the chronic hepatitis B infection, with normal liver function tests and negative HBV DNA
2. Subjects have to give written informed consent
3. Subjects must be available to complete the study and comply with study procedures
Key exclusion criteria1. Subjects with a history or any illness that might interfere with the results of the study or participation in the study may pose additional risk to the subjects
2. Subjects have a recent history (documented, confirmed or suspected) of a flu-like disease within a week of vaccination
3. Subjects have a known allergy to components of the study vaccine Sci-B-Vac™
4. Subjects have a positive urine or serum pregnancy test within 24 hours prior to vaccination, or women who are breastfeeding
5. Subjects have an active neoplastic disease or a history of any hematologic malignancy
6. Subjects have known chronic active hepatitis C (anti-HCV+ve), autoimmune hepatitis or cirrhosis
7. Subjects have known active human immunodeficiency virus infection (anti-HIV+ve)
8. Subjects have received an experimental agent (vaccine, drug, biologic, device, blood product, or medication) within 1 month prior to vaccination in this study or expect to receive an experimental agent during this study
9. Subjects participate in another clinical study during the current study
10. Subjects have axillary temperature ≥38°C or oral temperature ≥38.5°C within 3 days of intended study vaccination
11. Subjects have a history of alcohol or drug abuse in the last 5 years
12. Subjects have any condition that the investigator believes may interfere with successful completion of the study
Date of first enrolment30/04/2016
Date of final enrolment31/03/2017

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • Hong Kong

Study participating centre

Queen Mary Hospital
102 Pokfulam Road
Hong Kong
-
Hong Kong

Sponsor information

University of Hong Kong
University/education

102 Pokfulam Road
Hong Kong
-
Hong Kong

ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/02zhqgq86

Funders

Funder type

University/education

University of Hong Kong
Government organisation / Universities (academic only)
Alternative name(s)
The University of Hong Kong, 香港大學, Universitas Hongkongensis, HKU
Location
Hong Kong

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date31/03/2019
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryStored in repository
Publication and dissemination planTo be confirmed at a later date
IPD sharing plan

Editorial Notes

23/10/2017: Internal review.