Infant vaccinations and risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in the USA.
Previous studies have suggested that infant vaccinations may reduce the risk of subsequent childhood leukaemia. Vaccination histories were compared in 439 children (ages 0-14) diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) in nine Midwestern and Mid-Atlantic states (USA) between 1 January 1989 and 30 June 1993 and 439 controls selected by random-digit dialing and individually matched to cases on age, race and telephone exchange. Among matched pairs, similar proportions of cases and controls had received at least one dose of oral poliovirus (98%), diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (97%), and measles-mumps-rubella (90%) vaccines. Only 47% of cases and 53% of controls had received any Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine (relative risk (RR) = 0.73; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.50-1.06). Although similar proportions of cases (12%) and controls (11%) received the polysaccharide Hib vaccine (RR = 1.13; 95% CI 0.64-1.98), more controls (41%) than cases (35%) received the conjugate Hib vaccine (RR = 0.57; 95% CI 0.36-0.89). Although we found no relationship between most infant vaccinations and subsequent risk of childhood ALL, our findings suggest that infants receiving the conjugate Hib vaccine may be at reduced risk of subsequent childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Further studies are needed to confirm this association and, if confirmed, to elucidate the underlying mechanism.
Groves
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FD
Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-7244, USA.
Gridley
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G
Wacholder
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Shu
X O
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Robison
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Neglia
J P
JP
Linet
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MS
D000293:Adolescent; D016667:Bacterial Capsules; D019433:Chickenpox Vaccine; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015721:Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Vaccine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D018073:Haemophilus Vaccines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008458:Measles Vaccine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D022542:Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine; D009108:Mumps Vaccine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012307:Risk Factors; D012411:Rubella Vaccine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D017778:Vaccines, Combined / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use
D019433:Chickenpox Vaccine; D015721:Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Vaccine; D018073:Haemophilus Vaccines; C044237:Haemophilus influenzae type b polysaccharide vaccine; D008458:Measles Vaccine; D022542:Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine; D009108:Mumps Vaccine; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial; D012411:Rubella Vaccine; D017778:Vaccines, Combined; D014765:Viral Vaccines; C050102:measles, mumps, rubella, varicella vaccine