Hepatitis B vaccination does not increase risk of central demyelination

Objectives:
The anti-hepatitis B immunization campaigns launched in the early 1990s were a major public health breakthrough and targeted various populations (at-risk adults, newborns, adolescents). However, debate is still active about a possible link between this vaccine and central demyelination. Therefore, this review article (meta-analysis) has been conducted.

Do hepatitis B vaccination increase risk of central demyelination?

Study design:
This review article included 13 epidemiologic studies with a control group.

Results and conclusions:
The investigators found none of the pooled risk estimates for either multiple sclerosis or central demyelination following anti-hepatitis B immunization reached statistical significance.

The investigators found a non-significantly increased risk of 19% [adjusted risk ratio = 1.19, 95% CI = 0.93 to 1.52] for multiple sclerosis following hepatitis B vaccination.

The investigators found a non-significantly increased risk of 25% [adjusted risk ratio = 1.25, 95% CI = 0.97 to 1.62] for central demyelination following hepatitis B vaccination.

The investigators concluded that there is no evidence of an association between hepatitis B vaccination and central demyelination.

Original title:
Hepatitis B vaccination and the putative risk of central demyelinating diseases - A systematic review and meta-analysis by Mouchet J, Salvo F, […], Bégaud B.

Link:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29454521

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