Antibody response to influenza vaccination in renal transplant patients: correlation with allograft function.
Thirty renal transplant recipients received 0.5 ml of Influenza Virus Vaccine, Bivalent, USP, intramuscularly. Serum hemagglutination-inhibiting and nasal secretory neutralizing antibodies were measured before and 3 to 4 weeks after vaccination. Creatinine clearance and urinary protein excretion were measured before and weekly for 4 to 8 weeks after vaccination. Ten of 13 patients (77%) with creatinine clearance of greater than or equal to 70 ml/min-1.73m2 (group I) had greater than or equal to a fourfold increase in hemagglutination-inhibiting antibody titers to influenza A or B virus after vaccination, while only six of 17 patients (35%) with creatinine clearance of greater than  70 ml/min-1.73m2 (group II) had a similar increase (chi-square = 5.129; P less than 0.05). Six of 13 patients (46%) in group I had greater than or equal to a fourfold increase in neutralizing antibody titers to influenza A or B virus after vaccination, whereas none in group II had a similar increase (chi-square = 7.135; P less than 0.01). There were no adverse effects on the allografts. Only minor side effects were noted in a few patients. Because of its safety and antigenicity, influenza vaccination should be offered to renal transplant recipients particularly during threats of epidemic outbreaks.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D003404:Creatinine / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006385:Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D011507:Proteinuria; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D014611:Vaccination
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D003404:Creatinine