Antibody dynamics after tick-borne encephalitis and measles-mumps-rubella vaccination in children post early thymectomy.
Thymectomized patients (TP) showed a delayed humoral immune response to tick-borne-encephalitis-virus (TBEV) vaccination, which served as a neo-antigen. From the previously published cohort, the TBEV-specific IgG concentrations and avidities were analyzed in 17 TP compared to 30 non-thymectomized healthy controls (HC) 220 weeks after the first TBE vaccination to identify patients with waning antibodies. Only in HC, increase of avidity was significant between 8 and 220 weeks (p<0.001), whereas TP showed a lower avidity maturation at week 48 (p<0.05). Cytomegalovirus (CMV) seropositivity at vaccination did not influence the humoral immune response. The ability of TP to maintain measles, mumps and rubella (MMR)-specific antibodies at least 8 years post (MMR) vaccination was evaluated in the serum samples of TP, retrospectively. Although all TP had MMR vaccination at least 6 months after thymectomy, TP showed no significant difference regarding MMR-specific IgG concentrations or avidities compared to HC. Regarding TBE vaccination, the data confirmed the previous observation of a delayed primary immune response in TP to TBE vaccine and also revealed an altered memory priming by paucity of high-avidity antibodies.
Department of Pediatrics, Pediatrics I, Medical University Innsbruck, Anichstrasse 35, A 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
Manuela
M
Zlamy
Reinhard
R
Würzner
Heidemarie
H
Holzmann
Anita
A
Brandstätter
Verena
V
Jeller
Lothar Bernd
LB
Zimmerhackl
Martina
M
Prelog
D000293:Adolescent; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D000915:Antibody Affinity; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D022542:Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D013934:Thymectomy; D013997:Time Factors; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D022542:Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine; D014765:Viral Vaccines