Immunity Against Varicella in Pediatric Orthotopic Liver Transplantation Recipients

Launched by UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL, GENEVA · Jun 26, 2007

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying how well children who have received a liver transplant can maintain their immunity against varicella, also known as chickenpox. Varicella is usually prevented with a vaccine, but children who have had a liver transplant may not be able to receive this live vaccine due to their weakened immune systems. The research aims to find out how the immunosuppressive medications, which are necessary after a liver transplant, affect the body's ability to fight off varicella, especially if they were exposed to the virus before the transplant or received the vaccine.

To be eligible for this study, children must be either waiting for a liver transplant or have already received one and be followed at the Children’s Hospital of Geneva in Switzerland. They should be over 12 months old if they are offered the varicella vaccine. Participants will undergo tests to measure their immune responses before and after vaccination. It’s important for families to know that there are certain conditions that would exclude children from participating, such as recent exposure to chickenpox or other specific medical treatments. This trial is currently looking for participants, and it offers a chance to contribute to understanding how to better protect these children from varicella.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Children either awaiting or recipients of a liver transplantation followed at the Children's Hospital of Geneva, Switzerland
• • If vaccination offered: \> 12 months of age
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Known wild type varicella exposure within four weeks of the initial vaccine
• • Immunoglobulins administered within the 5 months preceding the receipt of varicella vaccine.
• • Antiviral agents administered during the preceding 4 weeks
• • Febrile illness (\>38.5°) in the 72 hours before vaccine administration
• • Chronic aspirin therapy
• • Any other live vaccinations within four weeks of receipt of varicella vaccine
• • Female patients in childbearing age will have a pregnancy test at enrollment, and at the time of the second vaccine.