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Pediatric Rheumatology
Published in: Pediatric Rheumatology 1/2018

Open Access 01-12-2018 | Research article

Varicella-zoster-virus vaccination in immunosuppressed children with rheumatic diseases using a pre-vaccination check list

Authors: Fabian Speth, Claas H. Hinze, Susanne Andel, Thomas Mertens, Johannes-Peter Haas

Published in: Pediatric Rheumatology | Issue 1/2018

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Abstract

Background

The goal of this study was to apply the varicella zoster virus (VZV) vaccine to patients with pediatric rheumatic diseases (PRD) at risk for severe chickenpox, without interrupting their current immunosuppression, including biological agents, using an immunological-based pre-vaccination checklist to assure safety. A pre-vaccination checklist was implemented to ensure adequate immune competence prior to immunization.

Methods

This prospective study included seronegative patients (VZV-IgG ≤200 mIU/ml) and patients who had previously received only a single dose of VZV vaccine. All vaccinees demonstrated clinically inactive PRD. Patients were categorized according to their actual treatment in low-intensity IS (LIIS) and high-intensity IS (HIIS) including biological therapy. The pre-vaccination checklist defined thresholds for the following basic laboratory tests: white blood cell count ≥3000/mm3, lymphocytes ≥1200/mm3, serum IgG ≥500 mg/dl, IgM ≥20 mg/dl, tetanus toxoid antibody ≥0.1 IU/ml. In case of HIIS additional specifications included a CD4+ lymphocyte count ≥200/mm3 and a positive T-cell function (via analyzable positive control of a standard tuberculosis interferon-gamma-release-assay (TB-IGRA) indicating mitogen-induced T cell proliferation). Patients who met the criteria of the pre-vaccination checklist received the first and/or second VZV vaccination. Immunologic response and side effects were monitored.

Results

Twenty-three patients were recruited of whom nine had already received one VZV immunization before initiating IS. All patients met the pre-vaccination checklist criteria despite ongoing IS. There was no overall difference in VZV-IgG levels when comparing the LIIS (n=9) and HIIS (n=14) groups. In total, 21 patients (91%) showed a positive vaccination response, after the first immunization the median VZV-IgG across all patients was 224 (59-1219) mIU/ml (median (range)), after booster immunization it increased to 882 (30-4685) mIU/ml. Two patients in the HIIS group failed to raise positive VZV-IgG, despite booster immunization. All nine patients receiving only the second immunization on IS reached high titers of VZV-IgG >500 mIU/ml (1117 (513-4685) mIU/ml). There were no cases of rash or other vaccine-induced varicella disease symptoms and no evidence of PRD flare.

Conclusions

VZV vaccination is safe and largely immunogenic in children with ongoing IS fulfilling an immunological based pre-vaccination checklist. This new approach is based on immunologic function rather than on type of medications.

Trial registration number

ISRCRTN trial registration number 21654693, date of registration February 12, 2018, retrospectively registered.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Varicella-zoster-virus vaccination in immunosuppressed children with rheumatic diseases using a pre-vaccination check list
Authors
Fabian Speth
Claas H. Hinze
Susanne Andel
Thomas Mertens
Johannes-Peter Haas
Publication date
01-12-2018
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Pediatric Rheumatology / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1546-0096
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12969-018-0231-3

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