Protective Status of End-Stage Renal Disease Children Against Tetanus and Diphtheria Vaccination

Background: vaccination against fatal viral and bacterial diseasesis still the best protective way to lower morbidity and mortality ratein end?stage renal disease (esrd) patients. it has been reportedthat there is high incidence of low protective levels of igg aftervaccination in esrd adult patients. the aim of this study was to evaluatethe protective status of vaccination against diphtheria and tetanus inesrd children after completing routine vaccination.methods: this cross?sectional study was carried on 83 participants lessthan 18 years including 27 patients on hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysisand 56 normal populations from february 2008 until december 2008at st. alzahra hospital, isfahan, iran. to determine anti?tetanus andanti?diphtheria antibodies level, tetanus igg elisa kit (ibl international,germany, re56901) and diphtheria igg elisa kit (ibl international,germany, re56191) were used. the participants must not receivedimmunoglobulin, blood products or immunosuppressive medication inthe current 6 months.results: the mean age of case and control group were 12.5 ± 2.7 yearsand 11.7 ± 3.3 years, respectively, p > 0.05. according to igg levels, 93%of hemodialysis patients and approximately 87% of peritoneal dialysischildren needed booster doses of diphtheria vaccination. the results forigg titer against tetanus revealed that in 91% of hemodialysis patientsand 83% of peritoneal dialysis children booster doses of tetanus wererecommended.conclusions: booster doses of vaccines may be required in esrdchildren. measuring serum igg levels against vaccines to defineprotective levels are recommended.