[Immunologic findings in children with abnormal reactions after vaccination]

In a group of 89 children with abnormal reactions after administration of the mixed vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough, after the mixed vaccine against diphtheria and tetanus, the live measles vaccine and oral poliovaccine, a detailed analysis was made of the case-history, and basic parameters of cellular and humoral immunity were examined. In these children the intensity of post-vaccination reactions was beyond the range of accepted criteria of mild and medium reactions or complications. In 17.3% of the children with an abnormal reaction after the mixed vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough a reduced IgA level was proved, while in the control group a reduced level was found only in 3.3%. 50% of the children who developed an abnormal reaction after the oral poliovaccine and the mixed vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough and at the same time some relative suffered from clinical signs of atopia, a reduced number of E rosettes of lymphocytes was recorded. 80% of the children who developed an abnormal reaction after the measles vaccine and some relative suffered from atopic disease, had low titres of specific antibodies against tetanic toxoid. Evidence was provided that children with certain precisely defined abnormal reactions after vaccination suffered significantly more frequently from reduced immune reactivity than children examined because of a suspected immunity defect.