title: Immunisation against varicella in end stage and pre-end stage renal failure. Trans-Pennine Paediatric Nephrology Study Group.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the seroconversion rate and duration of persistence of protective antibody titres after varicella immunisation in children with renal failure.
  
  
  METHODS
  32 children (25 end stage and 7 pre-end stage renal failure) were immunised using 2 x 2,000 plaque forming unit doses of varicella vaccine 3 months apart. Varicella antibody titres were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All children initially seroconverted after immunisation. At a mean follow up of 20.3 months, 23 of 28 had protective antibody titres, 4 children having died of unrelated causes. Two children required a third booster dose. 11 children underwent renal transplantation; 10 had protective titres at the time of transplantation and, at a mean of 23.4 months after immunisation, 6 currently have protective titres. Minor side effects occurred after 11 vaccine doses in 9 children. No child developed varicella, despite 10 clear episodes of exposure to the wild-type virus.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Varicella immunisation in children with end stage and pre-end stage renal failure results in a high rate of seroconversion and persistence of protective antibody titres. More widespread use of the vaccine before renal transplantation is recommended.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Nephrology, Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Pendlebury, Manchester M27 4HA, UK. nwebb@lycosmail.com
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Webb
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Fitzpatrick
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Brocklebank
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Judd
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Postlethwaite
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Corbitt
mesh_terms: D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D002644:Chickenpox / Q000517:prevention & control; D019433:Chickenpox Vaccine / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000601:surgery; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D019433:Chickenpox Vaccine