Vaccination of children and adolescents with rheumatic diseases

[Guest guest]

Vaccination of children and adolescents with rheumatic diseases

http://rheumatology.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2011/04/09/rheumatology.ker\

102.abstract

Correspondence to: Nicola Principi, Department of Maternal and Pediatric

Sciences, University degli Studi di Milano, Fondazione IRCCS Ca Granda

Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Via Commenda 9, 20122 Milano, Italy. E-mail:

nicola.principi@...

Abstract

Children with rheumatic diseases (RDs) are at greater risk of infection

because of their aberrant immunity and frequent use of immunosuppressive

drugs. However, the use of vaccinations in such children is debated by many

experts who think that the patients’ immune response is insufficient to

assure protection; some of them are also afraid that vaccines could trigger

a persistent autoimmune response and lead to severe clinical problems

including a relapse of the RD.

This review describes the available data regarding the risks of vaccine

administration, and the immunogenicity, efficacy and tolerability of the

vaccines usually recommended for children with RDs.

The data not only show that the schedule suggested for otherwise healthy

children should be followed, but also that pneumococcal and influenza

vaccinations should be strongly recommended because of the known risk of

severe infections in patients with RD. However, there are areas in which

further research is urgently required.

Purchase Short-Term Access Pay per View - If you would like to purchase

short-term access you must have a personal account. Please sign in with your

personal user name and password or Register to obtain a user name name and

password for free. You may access this article for 1 day for US $32.00.