title: Vaccination status of children considered for renal transplants: missed opportunities for vaccine preventable diseases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Infectious diseases, even vaccine preventable ones, might affect transplanting and the life course in pediatric solid-organ recipients. Owing to immunosuppression and decreased antibody production, susceptibility to infections is increased in these patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present study was designed to assess the vaccination and antibody status of the pediatric renal transplant patients. Fifty-one patients who were admitted to the regional transplant center for renal transplant were retrospectively evaluated. Patient 's vaccination charts were examined, and their immunization status was determined by antibody titers against hepatitis B, hepatitis A, measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study group was composed of 23 males and 28 females (mean age, 10.8 y; age range, 2-17 y). All patients ' vaccination status was appropriate with their ages according to national vaccination program. Antibodies were positive for hepatitis B in 84.3% patients, 76.5% for hepatitis A, 72.5% for measles, 64.7% for mumps, 64.7% for rubella, and 72.5% for varicella.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Seronegativity for common childhood diseases may complicate the posttransplant period owing to increased risk of infections. Especially in developing countries, immunization protocols and vaccination program schedules should be reviewed before transplant to prevent serious complications caused by these diseases.
authors: Pediatric Nephrology Department, Ondokuzmayis University Faculty of Medicine, Children's Hospital, Samsun, Turkey. gencdoc@yahoo.com
authors: Gurkan
authors: G
authors: Genc
authors: Ozan
authors: O
authors: Ozkaya
authors: Canan
authors: C
authors: Aygun
authors: Yarkin Kamil
authors: YK
authors: Yakupoglu
authors: Hulya
authors: H
authors: Nalcacioglu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D002644:Chickenpox / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D019433:Chickenpox Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008457:Measles / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D008458:Measles Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D012409:Rubella / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D012411:Rubella Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014421:Turkey; D014611:Vaccination; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D019433:Chickenpox Vaccine; D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies; D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D008458:Measles Vaccine; D012411:Rubella Vaccine; D014765:Viral Vaccines; C040901:rubella antibodies