Immunological response in HIV-positive patients vaccinated against tick-borne encephalitis.
BACKGROUND
Vaccination against infectious diseases is a recommended preventive measure in patients with impaired immunity. The aim of the study was to estimate the immunogenicity of the vaccine against tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) in HIV-infected patients and to determine its safety for this group.


METHODS
The TBE vaccine FSME-IMMUN-inject was tested on 29 HIV-positive patients and the response compared to that of 40 healthy controls. The vaccination protocol for the HIV-positive group was modified by the addition of a fourth dose according to a 0/1/2/9-month schedule.


RESULTS
No serious adverse reactions were observed in patients with deficient immunity. A better response was obtained in HIV-infected patients with CD4 counts >or= 500/microl (55% of the patients had levels of IgG antibody > 126 VIEU/microl) than in those with CD4 counts of 200-499/microl (40%). However, the difference did not reach significance. 85% of healthy controls achieved protective antibody titers after a full course of vaccination.


CONCLUSIONS
The correlation between post-vaccine seroconversion and CD4 lymphocyte count showed that the FSME-IMMUN-inject vaccine can be considered to be a CD4 cell-independent vaccine. The examinations carried out 1 year after the completed vaccination protocol showed maintenance of the anti-TBE response acquired after the third vaccination in healthy subjects and in HIV-infected patients.
Panasiuk
B
B
Dept of Infectious Diseases, Medical Academy of Bialystok, Zurawia Str 14, PL-15-540 Bialystok, Poland. apanasiuk@wp.pl
Prokopowicz
D
D
Panasiuk
A
A
D000328:Adult; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D004669:Encephalitis Viruses, Tick-Borne / Q000276:immunology; D004675:Encephalitis, Tick-Borne / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D014611:Vaccination; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage
D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D014765:Viral Vaccines