William R Mulley1, Claire Dendle2, Jonathan E H Ling3, Simon R Knight4. 1. Department of Nephrology, Monash Medical Centre, Clayton, Victoria, Australia; Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, Department of Medicine, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address: william.mulley@monash.edu. 2. Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, Department of Medicine, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia; Monash Infectious Diseases, Monash Health, Clayton, Victoria, Australia. 3. Department of Nephrology, Monash Medical Centre, Clayton, Victoria, Australia; Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, Department of Medicine, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia. 4. Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Centre for Evidence in Transplantation, Royal College of Surgeons of England, London, UK.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Clinical guidelines recommend vaccinations for solid-organ transplant recipients. However, concern exists that vaccination may stimulate adverse alloimmune responses. METHODS: We systematically reviewed the published literature regarding this aspect of vaccine safety. Electronic databases were searched for interventional and observational studies assessing de novo donor-specific antibodies (DSA) and rejection episodes after vaccination against infectious pathogens. Graft loss was also assessed. A meta-analysis was conducted for prospective, controlled studies. PRISMA reporting guidelines were followed. RESULTS: Ninety studies (15,645 vaccinated patients and 42,924 control patients) were included. Twelve studies included control groups. The incidence of de novo DSA (14 studies) was 23 of 1,244 patients (1.85%) at 21 to 94 days. The incidence of rejection (83 studies) was 107 episodes in 5,116 patients (2.1%) at 0.7 to 6 months. Meta-analysis of prospective controlled studies (n = 8) showed no increased rejection risk with vaccination compared with no vaccination (RR 1.12, 95% CI 0.75 to 1.70). This finding was supported by data from 3 registry analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Although the current evidence lacks high-quality, controlled studies, the currently available data provide reassurance that clinicians should recommend appropriate vaccination for their transplant patients as the risk of de novo DSA and rejection is relatively low.
BACKGROUND: Clinical guidelines recommend vaccinations for solid-organ transplant recipients. However, concern exists that vaccination may stimulate adverse alloimmune responses. METHODS: We systematically reviewed the published literature regarding this aspect of vaccine safety. Electronic databases were searched for interventional and observational studies assessing de novo donor-specific antibodies (DSA) and rejection episodes after vaccination against infectious pathogens. Graft loss was also assessed. A meta-analysis was conducted for prospective, controlled studies. PRISMA reporting guidelines were followed. RESULTS: Ninety studies (15,645 vaccinated patients and 42,924 control patients) were included. Twelve studies included control groups. The incidence of de novo DSA (14 studies) was 23 of 1,244 patients (1.85%) at 21 to 94 days. The incidence of rejection (83 studies) was 107 episodes in 5,116 patients (2.1%) at 0.7 to 6 months. Meta-analysis of prospective controlled studies (n = 8) showed no increased rejection risk with vaccination compared with no vaccination (RR 1.12, 95% CI 0.75 to 1.70). This finding was supported by data from 3 registry analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Although the current evidence lacks high-quality, controlled studies, the currently available data provide reassurance that clinicians should recommend appropriate vaccination for their transplant patients as the risk of de novo DSA and rejection is relatively low.