title: Haemophilus influenzae type b immunization of children with sickle cell diseases.
abstract: Haemophilus influenzae type B vaccine is recommended for children 1.5 to 6 years of age with sickle cell anemia, but the adequacy of their response is unknown. A total of 69 children with sickle cell syndromes, 1.5 to 5.6 years of age, were immunized with two vaccines alternatively, single blind. PRP vaccine was given to 36 children and a diphtheria toxoid conjugated vaccine, PRP-D, was given to 36. Coded pre- and postvaccine sera were tested by radioimmunoassay for anti-PRP antibody. The groups did not differ in age distribution or type of sickle hemoglobinopathy. Preexisting antibody levels were low in both vaccine groups; 65% were less than 0.15 microgram/mL. The vaccines were safe but associated with frequent minor reactions. PRP-D gave higher geometric mean titers and mean fold titer increase than PRP in all children (15.58 micrograms/mL [234-fold] v 2.63 micrograms/mL [29-fold]) and in the subgroups 1.5 to 2.5 years of age or with pretiter values less than 0.15 microgram/mL. Titers for 64% of children receiving PRP and 94% receiving PRP-D were greater than or equal to 1.0 microgram/mL. Thus, both vaccines were useful in this population, but PRP-D was more immunogenic. Duration of antibody levels postvaccination, booster responses, and PRP-D immunogenicity in younger children with sickle cell syndromes all require further study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Illinois, College of Medicine, Chicago 60612.
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Frank
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Labotka
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: L R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Frisone
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: McVerry
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Samuelson
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Maurer
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yogev
mesh_terms: D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects; D016667:Bacterial Capsules; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004168:Diphtheria Toxoid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology*; D018073:Haemophilus Vaccines; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000276:immunology; D006453:Hemoglobinopathies / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial
chemical_list: D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D004168:Diphtheria Toxoid; D018073:Haemophilus Vaccines; C044237:Haemophilus influenzae type b polysaccharide vaccine; C052180:Haemophilus influenzae type b-polysaccharide vaccine-diphtheria toxoid conjugate; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial