Abstract
We conducted a prospective evaluation of the immunization status (IS) of children with chronic liver disease (CLD) who were referred to our Center for orthotopic hepatic transplantation (OHT). One hundred-nine pts were enrolled in the study but 9 were excluded because of insufficient information. The ages of the pts ranged from 4 mos to 16 yrs (median; 34.3 mos). Fifty-seven were male. The etiologies of the CLD were: biliary atresia (BA)(67), α-1 antitrypsin deficiency (14), Alagiles Syndrome (6), misc. (13). Forty-three children, 6 mos - 16 yrs 4 mos (median age, 56 mos) were completely immunized. Fifty-seven pts were inadequately immunized. Their ages ranged from 4-48 mos (median age, 18 mos) Twenty-three and 22 of the 57 had never received DPT or OPV, respectively, and only 5% of pts who were ≥ 15 mos had been immunized with MMR. None of the pts who were eligible for HIb vaccine had received it. The IS correlated with chronologic age; only 22% of pts who were ≤ 6 mos were completely immunized as compared to 100% of pts who were ≥ than 48 mos. Children with acquired disorders of hepatic function were more often immunized than those with BA. In almost all instances, the parents stated that they had not immunized their child on the advise of their pediatrician or surgeon. Since live virus vaccines are contraindicated in immunosuppressed pts and pts with CLD are at ≥ risk for contagion than normal child, it is essential that these pts be immunized at the routine intervals.
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Andrews, W., Ginsburg, C. ORTHOTOPIC HEPATIC TRANSPLANTATION FOR UNIMMUNIZED CHILDREN – A PARADOX OF CONTEMPORARY MEDICAL CARE. Pediatr Res 21 (Suppl 4), 282 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198704010-00688
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198704010-00688