Measles, mumps, and rubella antibodies in vaccinated Baltimore children.
OBJECTIVE
To determine quantitative measles, mumps, and rubella serum antibody levels as a function of time since vaccination in a sample of vaccinated Baltimore children.


METHODS
Cross-sectional serologic survey.


METHODS
Pediatric outpatient departments at the University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore.


METHODS
One hundred seventy children, ranging in age from 1.5 through 16 years, who had measles, mumps, and rubella vaccination between ages 12 and 18 months.


RESULTS
Serum antibody levels to measles and rubella declined with increasing time since vaccination. However, no such decline in antibody levels to mumps was observed. Children who were vaccinated between ages 12 and 14 months did not have lower antibody levels than children who were vaccinated at age 15 months or older.


CONCLUSIONS
In areas free from natural disease, antibody levels resultant from measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine are likely to decline with advancing age. Revaccination with measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine may boost falling antibody titers.
King
J C
JC
Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore.
Lichenstein
R
R
Feigelman
S
S
Luna
C
C
Permutt
T J
TJ
Patel
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D015142:Baltimore; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004338:Drug Combinations; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008458:Measles Vaccine / Q000276:immunology*; D008459:Measles virus / Q000276:immunology; D022542:Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine; D009108:Mumps Vaccine / Q000276:immunology*; D009109:Mumps virus / Q000276:immunology; D012411:Rubella Vaccine / Q000276:immunology*; D012412:Rubella virus / Q000276:immunology
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D004338:Drug Combinations; D008458:Measles Vaccine; D022542:Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine; D009108:Mumps Vaccine; D012411:Rubella Vaccine