Krasnoproshina, L.I., Ivanova, O.E., Eremeeva, T.P., Skhodova, S.A., Chernyavskaya, O.P.

Cellular and humoral immunodeficiency in children with vaccine-associated paralytic poliomyelitis

Mechnikov Research Institute of Vaccines and Sera; Institute of poliomyelitis and viral encephalitis; Federal Center of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Moscow, Russia

Markers of humoral and cellular immunity in 16 patients with vaccine-associated paralytic poliomyelitis (VAPP) were evaluated. Signs of immunodeficiency (decrease of T- and B-lymphocytes counts, impaired synthesis of immunoglobulins, defects of phagocytosis, decrease of NK number) were revealed in all of the patients. Majority of them (81.3%) had defects in humoral immunity. Decrease of CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ was detected in 86.7, 35.7 and 91.7% of the patients respectively. Study of serum immunoglobulins performed in 15 patients showed decrease of IgG, IgM and IgA levels in 6 (40%), 1 (6.7%) and 6 (40%) of the patients respectively. Agammaglobulinemia was diagnosed in one patient in which only trace quantities of IgA and IgG were detected and IgM level was well below the normal. Congenital deficiency of IgA was diagnosed in 3 children. Majority of the children (11 from 12) had comorbidities (frequent respiratory infections, dermatitis, changes of intestinal microflora). Thus, immunocompromised condition of a child is a risk factor for VAPP after administration of alive oral poliovaccine.
Zh. Mikrobiol. (Moscow), 2006, No. 7, P. 47—54