title: [Tetanus immunity in men and women in the Federal Republic of Germany].
abstract: Tetanus antitoxin was measured by solid-phase enzyme-immunoassay in sera of 4187 men and 408 women in the age of 19 to 90 years. When 0.1 IE/ml antitoxin antibodies were supposed to be protective, then vaccination proved sufficient in 96% of men and 71% of women. Immunity to tetanus was at a higher level in the younger persons than in the older ones. Between the age of 60 and 70, a rapid loss of immunity was stated in both men and women. Need of vaccination is easily supported by quantitative measurement of the respective antibodies in sera. Moreover, serological screening of tetanus antitoxin antibodies is recommended in doubtful cases in order to avoid hyperimmune reactions in sufficiently immunized persons. The employed method of quantitation is easily performed under routine conditions.
authors.affiliation: Fachbereich Immunologie, Ernst-Rodenwaldt-Institut, Koblenz.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Schröder
authors.forename: W D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Kuhlmann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005860:Germany, West; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012737:Sex Factors; D013742:Tetanus / Q000276:immunology*; D013743:Tetanus Antitoxin / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D013743:Tetanus Antitoxin
vernacular_title: Tetanusimmunität bei Männern und Frauen in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland.