OT: EMLA Patch Does Not Affect MMR

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EMLA Patch Does Not Affect Antibody Response to MMR

http://pediatrics.medscape.com/reuters/prof/2000/06/06.30/20000630clin001.html

WESTPORT, Jun 30 (Reuters Health) - The fact that lidocaine and

prilocaine have antiviral activity has raised concern that using an EMLA

(eutectic mixture of local anesthetics) patch before immunization would

diminish the immunogenicity of vaccines. A Canadian study shows that the

EMLA patch has no adverse effect on the antibody response to

measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine.

A total of 160 infants at least 12 months old were randomized to use an

EMLA lidocaine-prilocaine patch or placebo for 1 to 3 hours before

undergoing subcutaneous MMR immunization. Dr. A. Halperin of

Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and colleagues report

their results in the June issue of The Journal of Pediatrics.

Increased total pain scores after immunization, as measured with the

Modified Behavioral Pain Scale, were significantly lower for the EMLA

recipients, 3.1 compared with 3.8 for the placebo group. Similarly,

irritability in the first 15 minutes after immunization was reported in

16% of EMLA recipients compared with 31% of placebo recipients.

Dr. Halpern's group observed no deleterious effect on the antibody

response. " From 94.8% to 97.5% of participants had a 4-fold or greater

increase in antibody titer against the three vaccine constituents, " they

write. J Pediatr 2000;136:789-794.