title: Influenza virus immunization effectivity in kidney transplant patients subjected to two different triple-drug therapy immunosuppression protocols: mycophenolate versus azathioprine.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Due to possible complications and treatment limitations, the prevention of influenza in renal transplant (RT) patients is highly indicated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-nine patients with a 1-year functioning RT subjected to two different immunosuppressive regimens and 37 healthy relatives (HR) were administered the anti-influenza vaccine as recommended for 1996 to 1997. Anti-influenza antibody, creatinine, and immunological markers were estimated at 1 and 3 months after vaccination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three months after vaccination, 46.2% of the RT patients and 69% of the HR (P=0.06) showed protective antibody titers to influenza A (relative risk [RR]; 0.67; 95% confidence interval: 0.44-1.02). A total of 20.5% of the RT patients and 44.8% of the HR showed antibodies to influenza B (P=0.03). Despite these differences, the incidence of illness was similar. The immunosuppressive regimen had no effect on the antibody response.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the RT patients showed a reduced antibody response, no negative effects on graft outcome were observed.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Nefrología, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain. cfernand@hcsc.es
authors.forename: A I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Sanchez-Fructuoso
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Prats
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Naranjo
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fernández-Pérez
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: González
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mariano
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: González
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Figueredo
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Paniagua
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fereres
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gómez de la Concha
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barrientos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000276:immunology*; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D007252:Influenza Vaccines