Antibody responses to Hepatitis B and measles-mumps-rubella vaccines in children who received chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate viral vaccine antibody levels in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia after chemotherapy and after vaccine booster doses. METHODS: Antibody levels against hepatitis B, rubella, measles and mumps vaccine antigens were evaluated in 33 children after completing chemotherapy (before and after vaccine booster doses) and the results were compared to the data of 33 healthy children matched for gender, age and social class. RESULTS: After chemotherapy, 75.9%, 67.9%, 59.3% and 51.7% of the patients showed low antibody titers that would be unlikely to protect against exposure to measles, rubella, hepatitis B and mumps, respectively. After receiving a vaccine booster dose for these antigens the patients had high antibody levels consistent with potential protection against measles, mumps and hepatitis B, but not against rubella. CONCLUSION: Extra doses of measles-mumps-rubella plus hepatitis B vaccines are recommended in acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients submitted to treatment after hematologic recovery. After this, viral vaccine antibody levels should be verified to define the individual's protective status.

Antibody responses to Hepatitis B and measles-mumps-rubella vaccines in children who received chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate viral vaccine antibody levels in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia after chemotherapy and after vaccine booster doses. METHODS: Antibody levels against hepatitis B, rubella, measles and mumps vaccine antigens were evaluated in 33 children after completing chemotherapy (before and after vaccine booster doses) and the results were compared to the data of 33 healthy children matched for gender, age and social class. RESULTS: After chemotherapy, 75.9%, 67.9%, 59.3% and 51.7% of the patients showed low antibody titers that would be unlikely to protect against exposure to measles, rubella, hepatitis B and mumps, respectively. After receiving a vaccine booster dose for these antigens the patients had high antibody levels consistent with potential protection against measles, mumps and hepatitis B, but not against rubella. CONCLUSION: Extra doses of measles-mumps-rubella plus hepatitis B vaccines are recommended in acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients submitted to treatment after hematologic recovery. After this, viral vaccine antibody levels should be verified to define the individual's protective status.

Risk factors for acute chest syndrome in patients from low socioeconomic background: a cohort study from Sergipe, Brazil.

A prospective cohort study to assess the risk factors for acute chest syndrome (ACS) in individuals with sickle cell disease was carried out in a referral center from Sergipe, Brazil. A total of 168 SS homozygotic individuals (ages between 12 wk and 26 y) were followed for 12 months. There were 134 admissions of 81 patients. There were 50 events of ACS, which was the second most frequent cause of hospital admission (after pain crisis). One patient died of ischemic stroke during follow up. In bivariate analysis, the following variables showed statistically significant associations with the occurrence of ACS: age less than 5 years, living in rural area, history of previous hospital admission; white blood cell count greater than 10,000/dL; hemoglobin concentration less than 7 g/dL and oxygen saturation ≤95% on admission. After controlling for confounding in multivariate logistic regression, only a history of previous admission remained as an independent predictor of ACS (relative risk=4.20; 95% confidence interval: 1.79-9.87; P=0.001). Patients with a positive history of hospital admission are under increased risk and should be monitored closely for prevention and early detection of ACS.

Risk factors for acute chest syndrome in patients from low socioeconomic background: a cohort study from Sergipe, Brazil.

A prospective cohort study to assess the risk factors for acute chest syndrome (ACS) in individuals with sickle cell disease was carried out in a referral center from Sergipe, Brazil. A total of 168 SS homozygotic individuals (ages between 12 wk and 26 y) were followed for 12 months. There were 134 admissions of 81 patients. There were 50 events of ACS, which was the second most frequent cause of hospital admission (after pain crisis). One patient died of ischemic stroke during follow up. In bivariate analysis, the following variables showed statistically significant associations with the occurrence of ACS: age less than 5 years, living in rural area, history of previous hospital admission; white blood cell count greater than 10,000/dL; hemoglobin concentration less than 7 g/dL and oxygen saturation ≤ 95% on admission. After controlling for confounding in multivariate logistic regression, only a history of previous admission remained as an independent predictor of ACS (relative risk=4.20; 95% confidence interval: 1.79-9.87; P=0.001). Patients with a positive history of hospital admission are under increased risk and should be monitored closely for prevention and early detection of ACS.

Função pulmonar em portadores de anemia falciforme / Lung function in patients with sickle cell anemia / Función pulmonar en portadores de anemia falciforme

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a função ventilatória por meio de espirometria, em escolares e adolescentes com anemia falciforme (AF), relacionando os achados a parâmetros clínicos e hematológicos. MÉTODOS: Foram avaliados portadores de AF de ambos os gêneros, a partir dos dez anos, clinicamente estáveis, sem intercorrências agudas, que foram submetidos à espirometria e avaliados quanto à saturação transcutânea de oxigênio, níveis de hemoglobina e contagem de leucócitos. Verificou-se a associação de alterações à espirometria com as características demográficas, clínicas e laboratoriais dos pacientes analisados. Para a análise estatística, aplicou-se o teste do qui-quadrado e o teste t para amostras não pareadas, sendo significante p<0,05. RESULTADOS: Foram estudados 51 pacientes e, em 40 (78 por cento), identificou-se comprometimento do perfil espirométrico, do quais 20 (50 por cento) apresentaram distúrbio ventilatório misto ou combinado, 13 (33 por cento) mostraram perfil restritivo clássico e sete (18 por cento), distúrbio ventilatório obstrutivo. Dos sete, em cinco (71 por cento) observou-se resposta broncodilatadora positiva. A contagem total de leucócitos associou-se à função pulmonar alterada. O volume expiratório forçado no primeiro segundo sem broncodilatador, a capacidade vital forçada antes e após broncodilatador e o fluxo expiratório forçado entre 25 e 75 por cento da capacidade vital forçada após broncodilatador foram significativamente menores nos pacientes com relato de internação hospitalar prévia por doença pulmonar aguda. CONCLUSÕES: A maioria dos pacientes apresentou alteração da função pulmonar, predominando o padrão misto ou combinado, seguido pelo restritivo clássico. Presença de leucocitose, na ausência de intercorrências agudas, associou-se a comprometimento de função pulmonar.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the pulmonary function in children and adolescents with sickle cell disease (SCD) and to associate the findings with clinical and hematologic characteristics of the studied population. METHODS: Male and female SCD patients with ten or more years old, clinically stable and without acute clinical problems were tested by spirometry. At that time, total pulse oximetry values, hemoglobin and total white blood cell count were verified. Association between altered pulmonary function tests and demographic, clinical and laboratorial characteristics of the patients were assessed. Statistical analysis included chi-square and t-test, being significant p<0.05. RESULTS: Among the 51 studied patients, 40 (78 percent) had abnormal spirometric results: 20 (50 percent) had mixed or combined ventilatory disorders, 13 (33 percent) had classical restrictive profile and seven (18 percent), obstructive ventilatory disorder. Out of these seven patients, five (71 percent) had a positive response to bronchodilators. Increased total white blood cells count was associated with abnormal pulmonary function. Patients with previous acute pulmonary hospital admissions had lower forced expiratory volume in one second without bronchodilators, lower forced vital capacity before and after bronchodilators, and lower forced expiratory flow between 25 and 75 percent of the forced vital capacity after bronchodilators. CONCLUSIONS: Most SCD patients presented abnormal pulmonary function, being predominant the mixed or combined type, followed by the classical restrictive pattern. Increased white blood cell count in the blood, without acute clinical events, was associated to abnormal pulmonary function.

OBJETIVO: Evaluar la función ventilatoria, mediante espirometria, en escolares y adolescentes con Anemia Falciforme (AF), relacionando los hallazgos a parámetros clínicos y hematológicos. MÉTODOS: Fueron evaluados portadores de AF de ambos géneros, a partir de los 10 años, clínicamente estables, fuera de complicaciones agudas, que fueron sometidos a la espirometria y tuvieron verificados la saturación transcutánea de oxígeno, los niveles de hemoglobina y el recuento de leucocitos. Se verificó la asociación de alteraciones a la espirometria con las características demográficas, clínicas y laboratoriales de los pacientes analizados. Para el análisis estadístico, se usó el chi cuadrado y la prueba t para muestras no pareadas, siendo significante p<0,05. RESULTADOS: Fueron estudiados 51 pacientes, y en 40 (78,4 por ciento) se identificó comprometimiento del perfil espirométrico de los que: 20 (50 por ciento) presentaron disturbio ventilatorio mixto o combinado, 13 (32,5 por ciento) tuvieron perfil restrictivo clásico y siete (17,5 por ciento) disturbio ventilatorio obstructivo. De los siete, en cinco (71,4 por ciento) se observó respuesta broncodilatadora positiva. El recuento total de leucocitos se asoció a la función pulmonar alterada. El Volumen Espiratorio Forzado en el primer segundo sin broncodilatador, la Capacidad Vital Forzada antes y después del broncodilatador y el Flujo Espiratorio Forzado entre 25 y 75 por ciento de la Capacidad Vital Forzada después del broncodilatador fueron significativamente menores en los pacientes con relato de internación hospitalaria previa por enfermedad pulmonar aguda. CONCLUSIONES: La mayoría de los pacientes presentó alteración de la función pulmonar, predominando el estándar mixto o combinado, seguido por el restrictivo clásico. Presencia de leucocitosis, en la ausencia de intercurrencias agudas, se asoció al comprometimiento de función pulmonar.