Summary:Patients and methods Fifteen children were immunized against VZV between 12 Herpes zoster (HZ) is one of the most common complications after bone marrow transplantation (BMT) inand 23 months (median 18 months) after BMT (seven autologous, eight allogeneic transplants). One dose of live attenchildren. Apart from treatment with antiviral drugs, effective prevention by active immunization with varuated varicella vaccine Varilrix (SmithKline Beecham, Munich, Germany) containing 2000 p.f.u./dose was used. icella-zoster virus (VZV) appears to be possible. In this study 15 patients were vaccinated with a live attenuatedThe vaccine, a lyophilised preparation of the VZV reference strain Oka, was reconstituted immediately before use VZV vaccine (Varilrix) 12-23 months after BMT. The vaccine was well tolerated without adverse reactions.with water for injection in a vial supplied by the manufacturer, and administered s.c. (0.5 ml) into the upper arm. Chickenpox or HZ were not observed for up to 2 years after immunization. Eight out of nine seronegativeOne child with no antibody response was re-vaccinated 16 months later. patients seroconverted and in six virus-specific IgG could still be demonstrated 2 years later. The incidenceThe mean age of patients at the time of immunization was 9 years (2-16). To be eligible for vaccination the folof VZV diseases in 133 non-immunized children after BMT was 26.3%. Infections usually occurred within 18 lowing criteria were required: lymphocytes Ͼ1000/ l; T cells Ͼ700/ l; positive skin test with one of the recall antimonths after BMT. Keywords: varicella vaccine; bone marrow transplangens candidin, tuberculin (PPD), streptokinase, or tetanus; IgG blood level Ͼ5 g/l; last administration of immunoglobtation; herpes zoster ulins at least 6 weeks previously; no immunosuppressive therapy for 3 months and no infections or fever for at least 4 weeks prior to vaccination; no hypersensitivity against Bone marrow transplantation (BMT) plays an important neomycin, which is added to the vaccine to reduce role in the treatment of leukaemias, genetic diseases, aplasbacterial impurities. tic anaemias, and solid tumours. These patients are at risk Serum samples were taken 4 weeks pre-vaccination, at of opportunistic bacterial, viral, and mycotic infections due the time of vaccination and 6 weeks, 6, 12, and 24 months to conditioning-induced severe granulocytopenia. 1 Among post-vaccination. VZV-specific IgG class antibodies were the viral infective pathogens, herpes simplex virus, varmeasured with an indirect fluorescent antibody test. 3 icella-zoster virus (VZV) and cytomegalovirus are of major Human thyroid cells infected with VZV (Oka-strain) served importance. The incidence of HZ has been described in up as antigen. The detection limit was determined as an antito 50% of post-transplant patients. 2 While selective antibody titre of 1:10 in preliminary tests. Seroconversion was viral drugs are available for treatment, the prophylactic use defined as a titre of у1:10 in previously negative pati...

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Maternal and cord blood samples of 290 pregnant women in the eastern part of Germany with a mean age of 28 years (16-41 years) were analyzed for antibodies to vaccine-preventable diseases. Both mothers and infants had detectable levels of antibodies to mumps in 96% and to tetanus in 93% of cases. Detectable levels to poliomyelitis, diphtheria, measles and rubella varied from 55% to 91%. Cord blood samples had a significantly higher prevalence of antibodies to pertussis (61%) and diphtheria (81%) in comparison to maternal samples (pertussis 37%, diphtheria 70%) as well as significantly enhanced antibody concentrations to diphtheria. In conclusion, the prevalence of antibodies to pertussis (61%), diphtheria (81 %), poliomyelitis (55-59%) and measles (85%) is suggested to be insufficient in newborn infants to protect them against these infectious diseases.

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UF was not more efficient than CF in DDL1 tumors. Taken together with previous experiments on human A7 glioblastoma, which showed a negative effect of UF on local tumor control, the preclinical data obtained in this laboratory so far do not support the use of ultrafractionated schedules in radiotherapy.