IMMUNE RESPONSE TO MEASLES-MUMPS-RUBELLA VACCINE IN ASTHMATIC CHILDREN

Abstract

Background: Asthmatic patients have a TH2-predominant milieu that is associated with humoral immunity. However, little is detected about whether humoral immune responses to viral antigens differ between asthmatic and non-asthmatic children. Aims; This study aims to compare humoral immune response to Measles-Mumps-Rubella vaccine in asthmatic children and healthy controls, Improve the understanding of effects of asthma on the risk of microbial infections, detect the effect of 3rd MR booster dose on the qualitative & quantitative immune response to measles, Rubella vaccines in asthmatic and non-asthmatic groups of children. Methods: This case control study was conducted in Allergy and Immunology Centre, VACSERA and in Allergy and Pulmonology Clinic, Pediatric department, Cairo University; It included 90 children who received two doses of MMR vaccine, aged from 2 to 5 years where 45 asthmatic children were diagnosed using GINA diagnosis& classification criteria and performed Pulmonary Functions Tests; compared to 45 age and sex matched controls. Twenty-three asthmatic patients & thirty-two non asthmatic control children received 3rd booster dose of MR vaccine 10 to 16 weeks before the sample collection. Mean titres of MMR specific IgG levels were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results; Lower levels of measles, rubella and mumps were found among asthmatic children than controls but were not statistically significant. Lower level of circulating measles specific IgG correlated with asthma severity. There was statistically significant lower level of circulating mumps specific IgG in preterm children among both cases and controls and There was statistically significant higher level of circulating rubella specific IgG in study group after receiving a third booster MR vaccine dose. Conclusion; Asthmatic children showed lower mean antibody levels for the measles, mumps and rubella vaccination compared to controls. We found significant higher sero-protective level of rubella specific IgG among asthma group of children after administration a third booster MR vaccine dose.