Antibody response to a Haemophilus influenzae type b polysaccharide tetanus toxoid conjugate vaccine in splenectomized children and adolescents.
20 children and adolescents 4-18 years old and splenectomized for various reasons (spherocytosis (n = 6), idiopathic thrombocytopenia (n = 8), other (n = 6)) were immunized once with a Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) polysaccharide tetanus toxoid conjugate vaccine. Prior to vaccination 10/20 patients had anticapsular antibodies below what could be considered the minimum protective level in splenectomized (0.6 micrograms/ml), whereas all obtained high antibody levels after vaccination. In addition 1 infant with congenital asplenia was vaccinated at 2,4 and 6 months of age, and was shown to respond well after the second and third injection with serum antibody concentrations of 0.84 and 10.7 micrograms/ml respectively. Because asplenic individuals have an increased risk of invasive Hib infection, these data suggest that vaccination of such individuals against Hib may be justified.
Kristensen
K
K
Paediatric Department GGK, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.
D000293:Adolescent; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006192:Haemophilus Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018073:Haemophilus Vaccines; D006801:Humans; D013156:Splenectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid / Q000276:immunology*; D014611:Vaccination
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D018073:Haemophilus Vaccines; C055753:Haemophilus influenza type b polysaccharide vaccine-tetanus toxin conjugate; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid