[Immune response to influenza vaccination among peritoneal dialysis patients]

The influenza vaccination is considered useful in preventing influenza and its complications, but its efficacy is variable especially in uremia. The humoral efficacy in a group of 15 patients in peritoneal dialysis treatment has been evaluated. Antibody responses were measured before vaccination and at time intervals of 1-4 months after vaccination. A good response to viruses A (A/H3N2/Johannesburg 33/94, A/H1N1/Singapore 6/86), respectively 80% and 66.7% and an attenuated response (20%) to virus B (B/Beijing 184/93) was observed. For viruses A, the "non responders" were elder patients with a low count of lymphocytes. For virus B it is suggested that the low response is perhaps related to variable effectiveness of vaccine.