Effect of annual influenza immunization on antibody response in lung transplant patients.
BACKGROUND
Influenza viral infections cause significant morbidity and mortality each season. Lung transplant patients may be at higher risk because of their underlying pathophysiology. Although annual immunization is the standard of care, its efficacy remains largely unproven. Previous studies showed poor antibody response to influenza vaccine in lung transplant patients, but no data on the antibody response in consecutive seasons have been published.


METHODS
We studied antibody responses to influenza vaccine in 122 subjects: 66 lung transplant recipients, 28 control subjects, and 28 patients awaiting lung transplantation. We compared antibody response rates to individual viruses contained in influenza vaccines in consecutive years within the 3 groups. Serum antibody concentrations were measured at baseline and 2 to 4 weeks after vaccination by using the hemagglutination inhibition assay. Log-transformed antibody concentrations and incidence of serconversion and seroprotection were calculated.


RESULTS
Median log-transformed antibody responses were similar in consecutive seasons in lung transplant subjects. Incidences of seroprotection and seroconversion did not differ between consecutive seasons in lung transplant recipients.


CONCLUSIONS
Antibody responses were similar in consecutively measured years in lung transplant subjects. Annual influenza vaccination in lung transplant subjects produces similar immune responses in 2 consecutive years, indicating that these patients are not at significantly increased risk of vaccine failure.
Dopp
John M
JM
University of Wisconsin, Madison 53705, USA.
Wiegert
Nicholas A
NA
Moran
John J M
JJ
Francois
Mary L
ML
Radford
Kelly L
KL
Thomas
Holly
H
Love
Robert B
RB
Hayney
Mary S
MS
D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / Q000276:immunology*; D053122:Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype / Q000276:immunology*; D009981:Influenza B virus / Q000276:immunology*; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D016040:Lung Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013997:Time Factors; D014181:Transplantation Immunology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014611:Vaccination; D014922:Wisconsin
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007252:Influenza Vaccines