title: Immunity to pertussis 5 years after booster immunization during adolescence.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We conducted a 5-year follow-up study on the persistence of pertussis-specific antibody and cell-mediated immunity after booster immunization of adolescents aged 11-13 years with a tricomponent acellular pertussis vaccine (Boostrix; trials diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis [Tdap]-004/030).
  
  
  METHODS
  Cellular and humoral immunity to pertussis toxin (PT), filamentous hemagglutinin, and pertactin were measured in adolescents (age, 16 years) 5 years after booster immunization. Similar investigations were performed for control adolescents who had received only diphtheria and tetanus booster vaccination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five years after pertussis booster vaccination, the geometric mean concentrations of immunoglobulin G (IgG) elicited by each of the 3 pertussis vaccine antigens decreased from 1-month and 3-year postvaccination levels, but with the exception of PT IgG, were still higher than the prevaccination levels. PT IgG levels were undetectable in 28% of the subjects, but 44% of those subjects still tested positive for cell-mediated immunity to PT. Filamentous hemagglutinin IgG and pertactin IgG levels were significantly higher in Tdap-boosted adolescents than in the control subjects. Antibody concentrations at 1 month after vaccination strongly predicted antibody persistence. Cell-mediated immunity levels to PT, filamentous hemagglutinin, and pertactin persisted above the prebooster levels measured 5 years earlier.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the present study of adolescents indicate that the interval between acellular pertussis booster immunizations might be extended beyond 5 years.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland. katede@utu.fi
authors: Kati
authors: K
authors: Edelman
authors: Qiushui
authors: Q
authors: He
authors: Johanna
authors: J
authors: Mäkinen
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Sahlberg
authors: Marjo
authors: M
authors: Haanperä
authors: Lode
authors: L
authors: Schuerman
authors: Joanne
authors: J
authors: Wolter
authors: Jussi
authors: J
authors: Mertsola
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000276:immunology; D015721:Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Vaccine / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000276:immunology; D007117:Immunization, Secondary / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D014917:Whooping Cough / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: C505143:Boostrix; D015721:Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Vaccine