Revista de Saúde Pública
Print version ISSN 0034-8910
COSTA, Isabel de Camargo et al. Evaluation of humoral response to heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in HIV-infected children. Rev. Saúde Pública [online]. 2008, vol.42, n.5, pp. 844-850. Epub Aug 28, 2008. ISSN 0034-8910. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0034-89102008005000048.
OBJECTIVE: Invasive pneumococcal disease is a major cause of death in HIV-infected children. The objective of the study was to assess the quantitative antibody response to the seven pneumococcal serotypes of heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in a group of HIV-infected children. METHODS: Study comprising 40 HIV-infected children aged between 2 and 9 years followed up in a specialized outpatient clinic in São Paulo, Brazil, between 2002 and 2003. Enzyme immunoassay (ELISA) was used to measure IgG antibody titers against pneumococcus capsule. Antibodies were measured immediately before and 1 month after the second dose of the vaccine. Two response criteria were used: IgG titers >1.3 µg/mL in the post-immunization serology and an increase of at least 4-fold in post- compared to pre-immunization serology. RESULTS: For the first criterion (>1.3 µg/mL), 26 (65%) children had serological response to the vaccine, 12 (30%) showed post-immunization IgG titers of at least 1.3 µg/mL for all seven serotypes studied. For the second criterion studied (>4-fold increase in post- compared to pre-immunization titers for four serotypes or more), serological response was seen in 15 (37.5%) children. CONCLUSIONS: Overall response to the heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine was adequate, showing a statistically significant increase in the post-immunization geometric mean titers for the seven serotypes studied.
Keywords : Pneumococcal Vaccines; Immunologic Factors; Pneumococcal Infections [prevention & control]; HIV Infections [prevention & control]; Child.