1. H1N1 Vaccine: No Good in Kidney Transplant Recipients? Vaccine Doesn’t Protect Most Patients
During the recent H1N1 pandemic, officials urged vaccination especially for immunocompromised individuals such as those with HIV/AIDS or patients taking immunosuppressive drugs. Between 80% and 95% of healthy adults develop a sufficient immune response after a single H1N1 vaccination, but what about immunosuppressed patients? Susanne Brakemeier (Charite, Berlin, Germany) and colleagues studied the immune responses to the H1N1 vaccine (Pandemrix) in 60 patients (12 female/48 male) taking immunosuppressives and at least six months post transplant. Twenty-two healthy individuals served as controls. Two transplant patients had immune responses to the vaccine before being immunized. Of the remaining 58 patients, only 34.5% mounted a sufficient immune response to protect against the virus, compared with 91% in the control group. 65.5% of transplant patients exhibited no response or a weak response. A subgroup of transplant patients received a booster vaccination; 42% mounted a sufficient immune response. “These data suggest that in renal transplant patients, a single dose of Pandemrix as well as booster vaccination is not sufficient to induce a protective immune response,” the authors concluded. Dr. Brakemeier advocated for studying H1N1 vaccine response rates in transplant patients more thoroughly. In addition, some patients mounted immune responses against their donated organ after being vaccinated, which highlights the need to test the safety of new vaccines in transplant patients.
Study co-authors include Petra Glander, PhD, Fritz Diekmann, MD, Hans-Hellmut Neumayer, MD, and Klemens Budde, MD (Charite, in Berlin, Germany).
Disclosures: Dr. Glander receives grant/research support from Novartis, Germany. Dr. Budde is a consultant for and receives grant/research support and honoria from Novartis, BMS, Pfizer, LifeCycle, Hexal, and Roche. All other authors reported no financial disclosures.
The study abstract, “An Adjuvanted Influenza A H1N1 Vaccine Does Not Provide a Protective Immune Response in the Majority of Renal Transplant Recipients,” [F-PO2050] will be presented as a poster on Friday, November 19, 2010 from 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM MT in Exhibit Halls A & F of the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, CO.
2. Reimbursement Policies Need Work to Increase Kidney Donation Incentives Fail to Improve Donation Rates
For several years, a number of states have tried to increase opportunities for organ donation by offering tax deductions or credits to reimburse living donors for non-medical expenses related to donation (time away from work, travel and lodging). Caroline Jennette (University of North Carolina Kidney Center) and J. Bradley Layton (University of North Carolina Kidney Center and Gillings School of Global Public Health) investigated whether these policies have influenced living kidney donation. They compared the 15 states that have enacted policies with the 30 states that have not. (States without living kidney donor information were excluded.) Their analysis revealed that states with reimbursement policies have not significantly increased living kidney donation. Rates of living kidney donation increased in all states in recent years, but surprisingly, states with reimbursement policies had a significantly lower rate of increase. “Policymakers and advocates put enormous time and effort into getting legislation introduced and enacted. This research highlights the need to be sure that policies are implemented in a way that achieves the desired goals—in this case, increasing rates of living kidney donors by decreasing the financial burden of organ donation,” said Ms. Jennette.
Disclosures: The authors reported no financial disclosures.
The study abstract, “Impact of State Living Donor Policies on Rates of Living Kidney Donation,” [F-PO2003] will be presented as a poster on Friday, November 19, 2010 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM MT in Exhibit Halls A & F of the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, CO.
# # #
ASN Renal Week 2010, the largest nephrology meeting of its kind, will provide a forum for 13,000 professionals to discuss the latest findings in renal research and engage in educational sessions related to advances in the care of patients with kidney and related disorders. Renal Week 2010 will take place November 16 – November 21 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, CO.
The content of this article does not reflect the views or opinions of The American Society of Nephrology (ASN). Responsibility for the information and views expressed therein lies entirely with the author(s). ASN does not offer medical advice. All content in ASN publications is for informational purposes only, and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions, or adverse effects. This content should not be used during a medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. Please consult your doctor or other qualified health care provider if you have any questions about a medical condition, or before taking any drug, changing your diet or commencing or discontinuing any course of treatment. Do not ignore or delay obtaining professional medical advice because of information accessed through ASN. Call 911 or your doctor for all medical emergencies.
Founded in 1966, the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) is the world’s largest professional society devoted to the study of kidney disease. Comprised of 11,000 physicians and scientists, ASN continues to promote expert patient care, to advance medical research, and to educate the renal community. ASN also informs policymakers about issues of importance to kidney doctors and their patients. ASN funds research, and through its world-renowned meetings and first-class publications, disseminates information and educational tools that empower physicians.
RSS