Assessment of immune response following immunization with DTP/Td and MMR vaccines in children treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

BACKGROUND

This study was performed to determine the antibody titers against diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis, and measles-mumps-rubella before and after re-vaccination in different periods of time in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) to provide a suitable vaccination schedule.

METHODS

Ninety patients with ALL were studied in three stages, including newly diagnosed patients, patients on maintenance therapy, and 1 to 12 months after cessation of therapy. Baseline antibody titers were assessed in all participants. Postimmunization antibody titers to DTP/Td and MMR vaccines were evaluated 3 weeks after vaccination.

RESULTS

Patients on maintenance therapy had considerable decreased in seropositivity rate; they achieved seroconversion rate of 100% for diphtheria and tetanus and of 71.4% for pertussis following DTP/Td vaccination. In patients after one month off therapy, the seroconversion rates for diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis were 71.4%, 80%, and 100%, respectively. The amounts of seroconversion in patients after 3 months off therapy were 66.5%, 80%, and 66.5% for measles, mumps, and rubella, respectively. In patients after 6 months off therapy, the seroconversion rates were 85.7% for diphtheria, 100% for pertussis and tetanus, 83.3% for mumps, 50% for rubella, and 41.6% for measles. Patients after 12 months off therapy achieved seroconversion rate of 100% for diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, and mumps, of 71.5% for rubella, and of 63.5% for measles.

CONCLUSION

Administration of one dosage of DTP/Td vaccine during maintenance therapy and after cessation of therapy could be recommended, while one dosage of MMR vaccine at least three months after completion of therapy could be safe and beneficial.