[Analysis of the immunological reconstitution, effectiveness and safety of vaccination in children with cancer].

UNLABELLED: The aim of this study was an assessment of immunologic reconstitution, efficiency and safety of vaccination performed in course of oncological treatment and after the therapy. PATIENTS: 129 children aged 1 month-19,5 years with diagnosis of leukemia or lymphoma (74,4%) or a solid tumor (25,6%). Immune status was evaluated 6 months after cessation of treatment in order to plan active immunization. Effectiveness of vaccination against hepatitis B was performed too. PATIENTS who did not complete immunization against hepatitis B at the time of diagnosis continued vaccination according to the scheme 0-1-6 months, the others were given one doubled dose. In 90,7% patients complete immune reconstitution was observed and both mandatory and optional immunization was then resumed. In 5,4% of children vaccination with live vaccines was suspended due to moderate immune deficiencies. In 3,9% of patients severe immune deficiencies were diagnosed and vaccination was abandoned. At diagnosis of cancer double vaccine doses against hepatitis B were given to 94,6% of patients, while 5,4% continued standard vaccination scheme. After anticancer therapy anti-HBs titer >100 IU/ml was observed in 55%, 10-100 IU/ml in 26% and <10 IU/ml in 18,6% of patients. One case of HBV infection was noted. Neither adverse reactions after immunization nor life-threatening infections the patients were vaccinated against was noted. Our Immunization protocol adopted in the study seem to be efficient and safe.