[Immunity against tetanus is often lacking in the elderly].
OBJECTIVE
It is generally recommended to vaccinate elderly people against tetanus. Is this really essential?


METHODS
The levels of antibodies to tetanus toxin in serum of 2936 individuals of various age groups were determined by means of an ELISA.


RESULTS
Obviously, the antibody titers definitely diminish in the old individuals. About 50 % of people > 80 years possess antibody titers < 0.5 IU/ml and about 30 % antibody titers < 0.1 IU/ml, which means that they are not absolutely protected against tetanus.


CONCLUSIONS
This, however is not due to a general decline of antibodies, since levels of immunoglobulins of the classes IgG, IgM and especially of IgA are higher with growing age.It can be assumed that the awareness for the necessity for vaccination is lacking.
Labor Limbach, Im Breitspiel 15, 69126 Heidelberg. herbert.hof@labor-limbach.de
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D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000276:immunology*; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D009391:Nephelometry and Turbidimetry; D011159:Population Surveillance; D013742:Tetanus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D013744:Tetanus Toxin / Q000276:immunology*; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D013744:Tetanus Toxin; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid