title: The effect of early measles vaccination on thymic size. A randomized study from Guinea-Bissau.
abstract: In low-income countries early measles vaccine (MV) is associated with reduced child mortality which cannot be explained by prevention of measles. A large thymus gland in infancy is also associated with reduced mortality. We hypothesized that early MV is associated with increased thymic size. Within a randomized trial providing MV at age 4.5 and 9 months or MV only at age 9 months, thymic size was assessed by ultrasound at age 4.5 months, before randomization to early MV or no early MV, and 4 weeks later. Among 656 children, there was no effect of early MV on thymic size, the geometric mean size ratio being 0.99 (95% CI: 0.96-1.02). In a post hoc analysis early MV was associated with a negative effect in healthy children but a positive effect in ill children. In conclusion, early MV at age 4.5 months had no overall effect on thymus size 4 weeks later.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  http://clinicaltrials.gov, NCT01486355.
authors: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark. Electronic address: lonedamkjaer@yahoo.dk.
authors: Lone Damkjær
authors: LD
authors: Christensen
authors: Research Center for Vitamins and Vaccines (CVIVA), Statens Serum Institute, Denmark; Department of Clinical Microbiology, Copenhagen University Hospital Hvidovre, Denmark. Electronic address: h.eriksen@bandim.org.
authors: Helle Brander
authors: HB
authors: Eriksen
authors: Research Center for Vitamins and Vaccines (CVIVA), Statens Serum Institute, Denmark; Bandim Health Project, INDEPTH Network, Bissau, Guinea-Bissau. Electronic address: s.biering@bandim.org.
authors: Sofie
authors: S
authors: Biering-Sørensen
authors: Bandim Health Project, INDEPTH Network, Bissau, Guinea-Bissau. Electronic address: c.bale@bandim.org.
authors: Carlitos
authors: C
authors: Balé
authors: Research Center for Vitamins and Vaccines (CVIVA), Statens Serum Institute, Denmark. Electronic address: vu_ando@yahoo.dk.
authors: Vu An
authors: VA
authors: Do
authors: Research Center for Vitamins and Vaccines (CVIVA), Statens Serum Institute, Denmark. Electronic address: aae@ssi.dk.
authors: Andreas
authors: A
authors: Andersen
authors: Bandim Health Project, INDEPTH Network, Bissau, Guinea-Bissau. Electronic address: c.martins@bandim.org.
authors: Cesário L
authors: CL
authors: Martins
authors: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark; Bandim Health Project, INDEPTH Network, Bissau, Guinea-Bissau. Electronic address: msodemann@health.sdu.dk.
authors: Morten
authors: M
authors: Sodemann
authors: Research Center for Vitamins and Vaccines (CVIVA), Statens Serum Institute, Denmark; Bandim Health Project, INDEPTH Network, Bissau, Guinea-Bissau. Electronic address: p.aaby@bandim.org.
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Aaby
authors: Research Center for Vitamins and Vaccines (CVIVA), Statens Serum Institute, Denmark; Bandim Health Project, INDEPTH Network, Bissau, Guinea-Bissau; OPEN, Institute for Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark and Odense University Hospital, Denmark. Electronic address: cb@ssi.dk.
authors: Christine Stabell
authors: CS
authors: Benn
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006169:Guinea-Bissau; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008457:Measles / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control; D008458:Measles Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009929:Organ Size; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D008458:Measles Vaccine
keywords: Measles vaccination; Non-specific effects; Thymic size; Ultrasound