Bacille Calmette-Guérin vaccination at birth and differential white blood cell count in infancy. A randomised clinical trial. Issue 11 (4th March 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jensen, Signe Kjeldgaard; Jensen, Trine Mølbæk; Birk, Nina Marie; Stensballe, Lone Graff; Benn, Christine Stabell; Jensen, Kristoffer Jarlov; Pryds, Ole; Jeppesen, Dorthe Lisbeth; Nissen, Thomas Nørrelykke
• Is Part Of: Vaccine. Volume 38:Issue 11(2020)
• Page Start: 2449
• Page End: 2455
• Publication Date: 2020-03-04
• Subjects: Bacillus Calmette-Guérin -- Heterologous immunity -- Infants -- Non-specific effects -- Trained innate immunity -- Vaccination -- White blood cell differential count; BCG Bacille Calmette-Guérin -- GM geometric mean -- GMR geometric mean ratio -- NSEs non-specific effects -- SD standard deviation -- TB tuberculosis -- WBC white blood cells; Vaccines -- Periodicals; 615.372
• DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2020.02.006
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0264-410X

Abstract

Abstract: Background: The Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine against tuberculosis (TB) may have beneficial non-specific effects (NSEs) beyond the protection against TB. This may be related to modifications of the innate immune system. We investigated the effect of BCG at birth on differential white blood cell (WBC) count in healthy, Danish infants. Method: The Danish Calmette Study randomised newborns to BCG at birth (Danish strain 1331, Statens Serum Institut) or no intervention. A sub-group of infants had blood samples collected 4 days after randomisation (n = 161), and at age 3 months (n = 152) and 13 months (n = 300). We evaluated the effect of BCG on WBC differential count (total leucocytes, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophil, neutrophil and basophil granulocytes (10 9 cells/L)) measured in peripheral blood. Results: Overall, we found no effect of BCG on differential WBC counts at any time point. Conclusion: BCG at birth did not affect WBC count in our cohort of healthy, Danish infants.