title: Outcomes associated with influenza vaccination in the first year after kidney transplantation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Influenza vaccination is recommended in all renal transplant recipients. However, immunosuppression in the early period post-transplant may attenuate the immunologic response to the vaccine. Additionally, it has been theorized that vaccination can induce an immune response that could trigger rejection episodes.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a retrospective cohort of 51,730 adult Medicare primary patients who were first transplanted from January 2000 to July 2006 and followed through October 2006, we assessed Medicare claims for influenza vaccination and influenza infections, respectively. Outcomes included allograft loss and death.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 9678 (18.7%) patients with claims for influenza vaccination in the first year post-transplant. Factors associated with vaccination included older age, diabetes, later year of transplant, and tacrolimus or mycophenolate at discharge. Vaccinations were less frequent among men, African Americans, highly sensitized patients, or those receiving induction immunosuppression or expanded criteria donor kidneys. Vaccination in the first year after transplant was associated with lower risk of subsequent allograft loss and death. Claims for influenza infection were reported in 310 (0.6%) patients and were not significantly associated with graft loss, although there was a trend toward death.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the first year after renal transplantation, influenza vaccination was associated with a lower risk of subsequent allograft loss and death. Although this study cannot comment on formation of protective antibodies after vaccination, these data do not support withholding vaccination on the basis of concerns of adversely affecting allograft function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, 6900 Georgia Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20307, USA. frank.hurst@us.army.mil
authors.forename: Frank P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Hurst
authors.forename: Jessica J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Rahul M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Jindal
authors.forename: Lawrence Y
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Agodoa
authors.forename: Kevin C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Abbott
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality*; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host / Q000276:immunology*; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000276:immunology* / Q000401:mortality*; D008297:Male; D006278:Medicare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D012042:Registries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007252:Influenza Vaccines