Abstract
Serological response to influenza vaccine was studied in children with several renal diseases who received low- to middle-dose prednisolone combined with or without immunosuppressive agents. A total of 10 patients, aged 6-15 years who received low-dose prednisolone (0.2-0.3mg/kg per day): 7 with prednisolone alone and 3 with prednisolone combined with an immunosuppressive agent received '01-'02 or '02-'03 influenza vaccine. Eleven children without renal diseases in whom immunosuppressive therapy was not done, aged 2-16 years were served as control. Moreover, additional 4 patients, aged 5-14 years who received middle-dose prednisolone (0.6-1.0mg/kg every other day) were vaccinated with a '03-'04 influenza vaccine. The changes of serum antibody titers to influenza virus A and B before- and after- vaccination were evaluated. Serum titer of antibody to influenza A after vaccination significantly increased in all the study patients who received low-dose prednisolone combined with or without immunosuppressive agents. There was no significant difference between the study patients and the control. In the 4 patients who received middle-dose prednisolone, serum titer of antibody to influenza A also significantly increased following the vaccination. However, a poor response to influenza B was observed in all the study patients. No adverse reaction caused by vaccination was documented. Based on our results, enough serum antibody titer to influenza A could be obtained following the vaccination, even in children with renal diseases undergone immunosuppressive therapy. Influenza vaccine may be safe and effective for children with renal disease.
