The use of vaccines in renal failure

Renal insufficiency is characterised by impaired host defences, which are compromised further by each of the 3 modes of renal replacement--haemodialysis, continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and renal transplantation. Reduced renal clearance of unknown toxins, possible development of nutritional deficiencies and administration of immunosuppressive medications lead to aberrant immune regulation early in the course of renal failure. This results subsequently in increased frequency and severity of infection. Vaccination plays an important role in attenuating this infection risk, but impaired cell-mediated and humoral immunity contraindicates the use of live vaccines and engenders suboptimal and short-lived antibody responses to inactivated vaccines. Reinforced vaccination schedules, increased vaccine dosage and concomitantly administered adjuvant immunomodulators have variably improved the defective antibody responses to certain vaccines. Immunisation against hepatitis B virus has resulted in a significant decrease in prevalence and incidence of this infection in haemodialysis units. Similarly, the inoculation of influenza vaccine in patients with uraemia and of polyvalent pneumococcal vaccine in special risk circumstances has been recommended because of perceived reductions in morbidity and mortality from infection with these agents. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) vaccine may attenuate CMV disease severity in recipients of renal allografts. Staphylococcus aureus vaccine, on the other hand, is ineffective in preventing peritonitis or exit site infections in patients receiving CAPD. Other killed vaccines have not been comprehensively studied, but generally have the same indications for use as in normal individuals. However, the protection that these vaccines afford may be either inadequate or transient, so that other infection control strategies should be simultaneously implemented.