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Kamei K. Live attenuated vaccines in patients receiving immunosuppressive agents. Pediatr Nephrol 2023; 38:3889-3900. [PMID: 37076756 PMCID: PMC10115603 DOI: 10.1007/s00467-023-05969-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2023] [Revised: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/21/2023]
Abstract
The use of live attenuated vaccines in patients with immunosuppressive agents is contraindicated in package inserts and guidelines in Japan and other countries. However, patients receiving immunosuppressants have a high risk of infectious disease becoming severe, and the necessity to prevent infectious disease is high. To date, 2,091 vaccinations have been reported in 25 reports of live attenuated vaccines in people receiving immunosuppressants. Twenty-three patients (1.1%) became infected with the virus strain used in the vaccine, which was varicella virus in 21 patients. No reports have described life-threatening complications. A prospective study at the National Center for Child Health and Development conducted under certain immunological conditions (CD4 cell count ≥ 500/mm3, stimulation index of lymphocyte blast transformation by phytohemagglutinin (PHA) ≥ 101.6, serum immunoglobulin G ≥ 300 mg/dL) confirmed the serological effectiveness and safety. The evidence suggests that live attenuated vaccines can be used even in combination with immunosuppressants. Further evidence must be gathered and immunological criteria investigated to determine the conditions for safe use. Depending on the results of these investigations, the wording in package inserts and guidelines may need to be revised.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koichi Kamei
- Division of Nephrology and Rheumatology, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan.
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Piché-Renaud PP, Yue Lee E, Ji C, Qing Huang JY, Uleryk E, Teoh CW, Morris SK, Top KA, Upton JEM, Vyas MV, Allen UD. Safety and immunogenicity of the live-attenuated varicella vaccine in pediatric solid organ transplant recipients: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Transplant 2023; 23:1757-1770. [PMID: 37321454 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajt.2023.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to synthesize the available evidence on the immunogenicity, safety, and effectiveness of live-attenuated varicella vaccine in solid organ transplant recipients. Medline and EMBASE were searched using predefined search terms to identify relevant studies. The included articles reported varicella vaccine administration in the posttransplant period in children and adults. A pooled proportion of transplant recipients who seroconverted and who developed vaccine-strain varicella and varicella disease was generated. Eighteen articles (14 observational studies and 4 case reports) were included, reporting on 711 transplant recipients who received the varicella vaccine. The pooled proportion was 88.2% (95% confidence interval 78.0%-96.0%, 13 studies) for vaccinees who seroconverted, 0% (0%-1.2%, 13 studies) for vaccine-strain varicella, and 0.8% (0%-4.9%, 9 studies) for varicella disease. Most studies followed clinical guidelines for administering live-attenuated vaccines, with criteria that could include being at least 1 year posttransplant, 2 months postrejection episode, and on low-dose immunosuppressive medications. Varicella vaccination in transplant recipients was overall safe in the included studies, with few cases of vaccine-strain-induced varicella or vaccine failure, and although it was immunogenic, the proportion of recipients who seroconverted was lower than that seen in the general population. Our data support varicella vaccination in select pediatric solid organ transplant recipients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre-Philippe Piché-Renaud
- Division of Infectious Diseases, the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Erika Yue Lee
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Division of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Eliot Phillipson Clinician Scientist Training Program, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Catherine Ji
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Toronto Western Family Health Team, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jenny Yu Qing Huang
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Chia Wei Teoh
- Department of Pediatrics, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Division of Nephrology, the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Shaun K Morris
- Division of Infectious Diseases, the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Pediatrics, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Centre for Global Child Health, the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Clinical Public Health, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Karina A Top
- Departments of Pediatrics and Community Health & Epidemiology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Julia E M Upton
- Division of Immunology and Allergy, Department of Paediatrics, the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Manav V Vyas
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Upton D Allen
- Division of Infectious Diseases, the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Pediatrics, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Kamei K, Miyairi I, Shoji K, Arai K, Kawai T, Ogura M, Ishikura K, Sako M, Nakamura H. Live attenuated vaccines under immunosuppressive agents or biological agents: survey and clinical data from Japan. Eur J Pediatr 2021; 180:1847-1854. [PMID: 33523302 DOI: 10.1007/s00431-021-03927-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2020] [Revised: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Live attenuated vaccines are contraindicated for patients on immunosuppressive agents or biological agent, except for live attenuated varicella vaccine, although previous reports showed their effectiveness and safety. This study is the nationwide cross-sectional research about the current utilization of live attenuated vaccines for patients on immunosuppressive agents or biological agents in Japan. We sent questionnaires to pediatric centers and examined whether each institution offered live attenuated vaccines to patients with immunosuppressive agents or biological agents (institutional research). We also examined adverse events associated with live attenuated vaccines between 2013 and 2017 (patient research). In the institutional research, 46 out of 334 institutions (13.8%) administered live attenuated vaccines to patients receiving immunosuppressive agents. In contrast, only six out of 270 institutions (2.2%) administered live attenuated vaccines to patients receiving biological agents. However, 66.3% of physicians answered that patients receiving immunosuppressive agents should be immunized with live attenuated vaccines, and only 7.0% disagreed with them. In the patient research, data for 781 patients were collected. Vaccine-associated infections were observed in only two patients (0.3%), both of whom had varicella, although they recovered promptly. No life-threatening adverse events were noted. CONCLUSION In pediatric centers, the demand for live attenuated vaccines in patients receiving immunosuppressive agents was high and most physicians think they should be immunized. Immunization with live attenuated vaccines appeared safe in patients receiving immunosuppressive agents, although further studies are needed for patients receiving biological agents What is known: • Live attenuated vaccines (LAV) are generally contraindicated for patients on immunosuppressive agents (IS) or biological agents (BA), except for live attenuated varicella vaccine, as immunocompromised patients are at greater risk for serious viral infection from the vaccine strains. • Viral infections, such as measles and varicella, cause serious complications in children receiving IS. • Several previous reports showed that LAV is relatively effective and safe for patients receiving IS. What is new: • In Japan, the demand for LAV in patients receiving IS was high, and most physicians hoped they should be immunized. • Vaccine-associated infection is rarely observed in patients with IS after LAV administration. • Immunization with LAV appeared safe in patients receiving IS. TRIAL REGISTRATION University Hospital Medical Information Network (UMIN). TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER UMIN000029176.Date of registration: 2017/09/19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koichi Kamei
- Division of Nephrology and Rheumatology, National Center for Child Health and Development, 2-10-1 Okura, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, 157-8535, Japan.
| | - Isao Miyairi
- Division of Infectious Diseases, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kensuke Shoji
- Division of Infectious Diseases, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Katsuhiro Arai
- Division of Gastroenterology, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Toshinao Kawai
- Division of Immunology, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masao Ogura
- Division of Nephrology and Rheumatology, National Center for Child Health and Development, 2-10-1 Okura, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, 157-8535, Japan
| | - Kenji Ishikura
- Division of Nephrology and Rheumatology, National Center for Child Health and Development, 2-10-1 Okura, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, 157-8535, Japan
- Department of Pediatrics, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Sagamihara, Japan
| | - Mayumi Sako
- Division for Clinical Trials, Department of Clinical Research Promotion, Clinical Research Center, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hidefumi Nakamura
- Department of Development Strategy, Clinical Research Center, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
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