Induction of Immunity Against Measles in Pediatric Liver Transplant Recipients

Launched by KLARA M. PÓSFAY BARBE · Jan 15, 2013

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying how to safely improve immunity against measles in children who have received a liver transplant. Measles is a serious illness that can be dangerous for children with weakened immune systems, like those who have undergone organ transplants. The trial aims to determine how the immune system responds to the measles vaccine in these children, especially those who were vaccinated before their transplant and are now at least a year post-surgery.

To participate in the study, children need to be at least 12 months old and have low levels of specific antibodies against measles. They must also be more than a year past their liver transplant and not currently receiving high doses of certain medications that suppress the immune system. Participants will receive the measles vaccine and will be monitored for their immune response. It’s important to know that children with certain recent illnesses or treatments may not be eligible for the trial. This study could help improve vaccination strategies for vulnerable children in the future.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Age ≥ 12 months
• • Measles-specific IgG antibodies negative (\<0.2 IU/L), as detected by the routine ELISA assay
• • ≥ 12 months from the time of transplantation and ≥ 2 months from the time of an acute rejection episode
• • Steroids \< 2 mg/kg/day, tacrolimus \< 0.3mg/kg/day and tacrolimus level \< 8 ng/ml for \> 1 month.
• • Total lymphocyte count ≥ 750 cells/ul at time of immunization
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Known wild-type measles exposure during the last four weeks
• • Measles-containing immunoglobulins administered within the 5 months preceding the measles vaccine. If the child receives measles-containing Ig before an additional dose of MMR vaccine, he/she will be withdrawn from the study
• • Antiviral agents administered during the last four weeks
• • Febrile illness (\>38.5°) in the 72 hours before vaccine administration
• • Chronic aspirin therapy
• • Any other immunization with a live-attenuated vaccine during the last four weeks
• • Pregnancy