The main factors, associated with incomplete vaccination againts measels, parotitis, rubella, and diphtheria in 170 juvenile idiopathic arthritis patients: the results of prospective pilot study

Background. Patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) may have incomplete vaccination againts different vaccines leads to lower protective levels of anti-vaccine antibodies.

The aim of the study – to evaluate the rate and the main factors of incomplete vaccination against measels, parotitis, rubella (MMR), and diphtheria in JIA patients.

Methods. In the present study were included data 170 JIA (55 boys and 115 girls) aged from 2 to 17 years, who received scheduled vaccination before the age of 2 years and before JIA onset against measles, parotitis, diphtheria and rubella. Incomplete vaccination means the reduced number of vaccine to age. In all patients the IgG anti-vaccine antibodies levels were detected with ELISA. Data presented with odds ratio ()OR) with 95 confidence interval (CI).

Results. Incomplete vaccination against MMR was in 50 (32.5%) of children less than 6 years. Incomplete vaccination against diphtheria was in 6/16 (37.5%) of children less than 6 year, in 53/110 (48.2%) of children aged 6–14 years and in 26/44 (59.1%) of the JIA patients more than 14 years. The main predictors in logistic regression for incomplete vaccination for MMR were: onset age <4 years (OR=12.2 [95% CI: 5.0–28.9]; p=0.0000001), JIA duration >3.1 years (OR=4.4 [95% CI: 2.0–9.9]; p=0.0002), methotrexate duration >3 years (OR=5.7 [95% CI 2.7–12.0]; p=0.0000012); biologic treatment (OR=2.5 [95% CI: 1.3–4.9]; p=0.008) and treatment >1 biologic (OR=3.3 [95% CI: 1.1–10.4]; p=0.002); for diphtheria were: JIA duration >3.1 years (OR=3.4 [95% CI: 1.8–6.5]; p=0.0002), methotrexate duration >2.8 years (OR=4.1 [95% CI: 2.1–8.1]; p=0.00004), biologic treatment (OR=2.4 [95% CI: 1.3–4.4]; p=0.006). In the multiple regression only JIA onset age (p=0.00001) and duration of methotrexate (p=0.003) were predictors of incomplete vaccination against MMR. Methotrexate duration (p=0.005) and biologics treatment (p=0.05) were predictors of incomplete vaccination against diphtheria.

Conclusion. The main predictor of incomplete vaccination was younger onset age of JIA. Children received more intensive immunosupression usually have scheduled vaccination rarely which leads to increased number of patients without protective antibody levels. These facts indicate the attitude of physicians parents to vaccination in immunocompromised children. Further investigations required for assessment of safety of vaccinations in children with rheumatic diseases may be a factor for changing this prejudice.

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