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.

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%), identificou-se comprometimento do perfil espirométrico, do quais 20 (50%) apresentaram distúrbio ventilatório misto ou combinado, 13 (33%) mostraram perfil restritivo clássico e sete (18%), distúrbio ventilatório obstrutivo. Dos sete, em cinco (71%) 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% 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.

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.