title: Immunity against vaccine-preventable potentially neurotropic diseases in children treated for malignant brain tumours with HIT-91 chemo- and radiotherapy.
abstract: Following surgery, chemotherapy and/or irradiation, patients with malignant brain tumours are at risk of neurotropic diseases, although these are partly vaccine-preventable. In a retrospective, controlled, observational study, the impact of the German-Austrian chemo- and radiotherapy protocol (HIT-91) on antibody concentrations against vaccine-preventable diseases and on vaccination behaviour was analysed. A significant level of seronegativity for measles- and mumps-IgG, and a reduced protection induced by inactivated vaccines was observed after HIT-91 therapy. Failure of seroconversion following measles and mumps live vaccinations was assessed in the HIT-91-treated group and in a group with benign brain tumours (BBT). Analysis of cellular immunological parameters revealed significant aberrations in the HIT-91-treated group 36 months after completion of HIT-91 therapy. A retrospective analysis of the patient's vaccination history revealed an incorrect risk perception concerning the choice of vaccinations. We therefore recommend clinical vaccination with serosurveillance in patients who have undergone treatment for brain tumours.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics & Juvenile Medicine, University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schuller
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Förster-Waldl
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Slavc
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Maurer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D014765:Viral Vaccines