1103 INFLUENZA VIRUS IMMUNIZATION IN CHILDREN WITH RENAL DISEASE

Abstract

Thirty-six children (ages 4-15 yr) with renal disease were separated into 3 groups of 12 - Group I, Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome (INS) in remission and no therapy; Group II, INS in remission with alternate day maintenance steroid therapy and Group III, nephritides. All were immunized with a single dose of 0.5 ml Influenza virus vaccine, bivalent type A subvirion (Park-Davis & Co). Before and 4 weeks after immunization, sera were tested for serum hemagglutination inhibition (HI) antibody titers to A/New Jersey/76 (HswlNl), A/Victoria/75 (H3N2) and A/Port Chalmers/73 (H3N2). Pre-immunization, serum HI antibody titers (1:40) to A/New Jersey was present in one child, to A/Victoria in 10 children (27%) and to A/Port Chalmers in 25 of 34 children (68%). After immunization 31 of 36 children (86%) had 4-fold or more rise in serum HI titers (p<0.01). Neither the type of the renal disease nor therapy with prednisone had any effect on the rise of serum HI titers (p>0.05). Sixteen of 36 children (44%) had local tenderness and 3 children (8%) had a fever of 39°C. Of the 7 children with pre-immunization proteinuria, 4 children had transient rise in proteinuria after immunization. None required an increased prednisone dose for exacerbation of INS. Children with chronic renal problems should be protected against influenza.