Assessment of serologic immunity to diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis after treatment of Korean pediatric hematology and oncology patients.
The aim of this study was to investigate the diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis antibody titers after antineoplastic treatment and to suggest an appropriate vaccination approach for pediatric hemato-oncologic patients. A total of 146 children with either malignancy in remission after cessation of therapy or bone marrow failure were recruited. All children had received routine immunization including diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis vaccination before diagnosis of cancer. The serologic immunity to diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis was classified as: completely protective, partially protective, or non-protective. Non-protective serum antibody titer for diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis was detected in 6.2%, 11.6%, and 62.3% of patients, respectively, and partial protective serum antibody titer for diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis was seen in 37%, 28.1%, and 8.9% of patients. There was no significant correlation between the severity of immune defect and age, gender or underlying disease. Revaccination after antineoplastic therapy showed significantly higher levels of antibody for each vaccine antigen. Our data indicates that a large proportion of children lacked protective serum concentrations of antibodies against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis. This suggests that reimmunization of these patients is necessary after completion of antineoplastic treatment. Also, prospective studies should be undertaken with the aim of devising a common strategy of revaccination.
Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
Hyo Jin
HJ
Kwon
Jae-Wook
JW
Lee
Nak-Gyun
NG
Chung
Bin
B
Cho
Hack-Ki
HK
Kim
Jin Han
JH
Kang
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004165:Diphtheria / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D022681:Diphtheria-Tetanus-acellular Pertussis Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007117:Immunization, Secondary; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D012737:Sex Factors; D013742:Tetanus / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D014917:Whooping Cough / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D022681:Diphtheria-Tetanus-acellular Pertussis Vaccines