Immunity to varicella, measles, and mumps in patients evaluated for lung transplantation. Issue 8 (27th April 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hostetler, Haley P.; Neely, Megan L.; Lydon, Elizabeth; Danziger‐Isakov, Lara A.; Todd, Jamie L.; Palmer, Scott M.
• Is Part Of: American journal of transplantation. Volume 21:Issue 8(2021)
• Page Start: 2864
• Page End: 2870
• Publication Date: 2021-04-27
• Subjects: clinical research / practice -- infection and infectious agents – viral -- lung disease: immune / inflammatory -- lung disease: infectious -- lung transplantation / pulmonology; Transplantation of organs, tissues, etc -- Periodicals; 617.95
• DOI: 10.1111/ajt.16602
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1600-6135

Abstract

Abstract : Vaccine‐preventable viral infections are associated with increased risk of morbidity and mortality in post‐transplant patients on immunosuppression regimens. Therefore, we studied rates of immunity against vaccine‐preventable viruses in lung transplantation (LTx) candidates and their associations with underlying lung disease and clinical characteristics. We retrospectively studied 1025 consecutive adult patients who underwent first‐time evaluation for LTx at a single center between January 2016 and October 2018. Viruses studied included varicella zoster (VZV), measles, and mumps. Young age (17–48 years old) was negatively associated with immunity for VZV (OR 4.54, p < .001), measles (OR 15.45, p < .001) and mumps (OR 3.1, p < .001), as compared to those 65+. Many LTx candidates with cystic fibrosis (CF) had undetectable virus‐specific antibody titers including: 13.5% for VZV, 19.1% for measles, and 15.7% for mumps with significant odds of undetectable titers for VZV (OR 4.54, p < .001) and measles (OR 2.32, p = .010) as compared to those without CF. Therefore, a substantial number of patients undergoing LTx evaluation had undetectable virus‐specific antibody titers. Our results emphasize the importance of screening for immunity to vaccine‐preventable infections in this population and the need for revaccination in selected patients to boost their humoral immunity prior to transplantation. Abstract : Among primary lung transplant recipients, those who are younger and those with cystic fibrosis have higher rates of undetectable virus‐specific antibodies to varicella, measles, and mumps. Meyer and Avery's editorial is on page 2633 .