Administration of Attenuated Live Vaccines Before and After Liver Transplantation in Childhood: Single Center Experience in Turkey

Abstract

Abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the attenuated live vaccine administration before and after liver transplantation. This study was carried out at the Child Health Surveillance Unit of the Social Pediatrics Department. Besides healthy children, children with special needs are being followed-up at the Unit. Each child has a personal health record in the unit. The health records of patients who had received attenuated live vaccine before liver transplantation under 1 year of age or after liver transplantation were evaluated. Demographic characteristics, data showing immunologic status before vaccination, vaccine related reactions and serologic responses were obtained from health records of each child. Retrospective files of 5 patients who were in follow-up were examined. Four patients at least 2 years after the liver transplantation had attenuated live vaccination (measles-mumps-rubella vaccine and / or chickenpox vaccine). No adverse reaction was noted after the immunization among these 4 children. A 6-month-15-day-old infant who was a candidate for liver transplantation had been vaccinated with measles-mumps-rubella and chickenpox vaccine and it was determined that the serological response after vaccination was not complete in the baby who did not have any adverse reactions after vaccination. Our findings demonstrated that despite the use of immusuppressive therapy, it is safe to apply attenuated live vaccines after the transplantation if appropriate conditions were provided. The timing of the rapid effective immunization before transplantation under one year of age needs to be further investigated. Keywords: Child, liver transplantation, attenuated live vaccination