[Vaccination against influenza in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia]. / Szczepienia przeciw grypie dzieci chorych na ostra bialaczke limfoblastyczna.

In November and December 1993, 49 children, ages 4 to 20, suffering from acute lymphoblastic leukemia, were vaccinated against influenza in the Department of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, Medical Academy in Warsaw. These patients were vaccinated either in the course of maintenance treatment or after treatment. Each dose of Wyeth USA subunit trivalent influenza vaccine contained 15 micrograms of hemagglutinin of strains recommended for that season. The level of antibody production was determined in pre- and post vaccination sera in the group of children with leukemia and the control group. It was determined that in the investigated group, the GMT increased more than four times for hemagglutinins H1N1 and H3N2. A somewhat lower increase was observed in case of hemagglutinin HB. The proportion of subjects protected after vaccination was 35% for hemagglutinin H1N1, 76% for H3N2 and 100% for HB. The response rate was 33% for hemagglutinin H1N1, 47% for H3N2 and 45% for HB. In the control group the proportion of subjects protected and the response rate were very low. The results show the significant immunological efficacy of the vaccine used in the vaccination against influenza in high risk groups.

[Influenza vaccination of children with hemophilia]. / Szczepienia przeciw grypie dzieci chorych na hemofilie.

51 haemophilic children aged from 7 to 16 years was vaccinated against influenza in Paediatric Department of Haematology and Oncology in November and December of 1993. Each dose of subunit vaccine manufactured by Wyeth-USA, contained 15 micrograms of each haemagglutinin strains as recommended for the season. The antibody level was studied before and after influenza vaccination in vaccinated and control group as well. 5-time rise of geometric mean antibody titre was found for H1N1 and H3N2 antigens after vaccination of the children group. Slightly lower, 2.7-time rise of GMT was showed for HB haemagglutinin of influenza virus. There was no significant rise of GMT for any among three studied virus haemagglutinin.

Peripheral blood leukocytes and lymphocyte subpopulations as determined by flow cytometric measurements in healthy children.

Peripheral venous blood leukocyte subpopulations were determined in 69 healthy children and compared in two age groups: 8 to 12 years and 13 to 17 years, the period of pubescence and intensive growth of the organism. As compared to work of other authors, more leukocyte subpopulations were recognized in the examined large group of children. Whole blood monocyte and total lymphocyte absolute counts decreased with age as well as the absolute counts of T lymphocytes and CD8+ T lymphocytes. Percentage of CD4+ cells and CD4/CD8 ratio were higher in the older age group. Percentage as well as absolute counts of CD19+ CD5+ cells and CD19+ CD10+ cells are given.