Vaccinations
Infections are commonplace in patients with chronic liver disease, including those with cirrhosis. This is because cirrhotic patients who develop bacterial infections are more likely to die from complications. In addition, as liver cirrhosis gets worse, the majority of immunizations lose their efficacy. It is, therefore, crucial to provide cirrhotic patients with immunizations as early as possible.
Cirrhotic patients have lower post-immunization antibodies against viral hepatitis B than healthy individuals. Therefore, they will significantly benefit from double-dose hepatitis vaccinations at regular intervals. Consequently, hepatitis A superimposed on cirrhotic patients may increase their risk of death. This is because the efficacy of hepatitis A vaccines decreases in cirrhotic patients. Ideally, the hepatitis A vaccine should be given to chronic liver disease patients before the onset of cirrhosis.
All cirrhosis patients must be initiated on hepatitis B vaccination at the time to ensure better protection against the hepatitis B virus. Once a patient successfully achieves seroconversion with the standard hepatitis B dosage, it is recommended to provide cirrhotic patients with higher dosages for their subsequent vaccinations.
