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1: Am J Nephrol. 2008;28(4):654-60. Epub 2008 Mar 6.Click here to read Links

Antibody response to influenza immunization in kidney transplant recipients receiving either azathioprine or mycophenolate: a controlled trial.

Keshtkar-Jahromi M, Argani H, Rahnavardi M, Mirchi E, Atabak S, Tara SA, Gachkar L, Noori-Froothghe A, Mokhtari-Azad T.

Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University MC, Tehran, Iran. maryam_keshtkar@yahoo.com

AIMS: We aimed to assess humoral immune response to the influenza vaccine in adult kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) subjected to two immunosuppressive regimens containing either mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) or azathioprine (Aza). METHODS: 40 eligible KTRs (24 treated with Aza [KTRs-Aza] and 16 treated with MMF [KTRs-MMF]) and 40 matched healthy controls (HCs) were administered the trivalent 2006-2007 anti-influenza vaccine. Antibody (Ab) titers were measured before (pre-vacc) and 1 month after (post-vacc) vaccination. The proportion of protective Ab titers (i.e. >or=1:40), the serological response (i.e. >or=4-fold rise in titers) rates, and the magnitudes of change in titers were evaluated. Results: KTRs and HCs were similar in serologic responses, magnitudes of change in Ab titers, and proportions of acquired protective titers against all antigens. Whereas KTRs-MMF and KTRs-Aza were identical in magnitude of rise in titers as well as in serologic responses, KTRs-MMF did poorer in developing post-vacc-protective titers against A/H1N1 (p < 0.05). The function of the transplanted kidney has not deteriorated after vaccination. Conclusions: Anti-influenza vaccination was safe in KTRs and evoked Ab responses comparable to those of HCs. KTRs-MMF and KTRs-Aza responded almost equally to the vaccine. Annual anti-influenza vaccination can be recommended to all stable KTRs. Copyright 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel.

PMID: 18322360 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Patient Drug Information

  • Mercaptopurine (Purinethol® )

    Your doctor has ordered the drug mercaptopurine to help treat your illness. The drug is taken by mouth in tablet form.

  • Azathioprine (Azasan® , Imuran® )

    Azathioprine is used with other medications to prevent rejection of kidney transplants. It is also used to treat severe rheumatoid arthritis (a condition in which the body attacks its own joints, causing pain and swellin...

  • Mycophenolate (CellCept® , Myfortic® )

    Mycophenolate (CellCept) is used with other medications to help prevent transplant organ rejection (attack of the transplanted organ by the immune system of the person receiving the organ) in people who have received kid...

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