Does Intrauterine Exposure of the Foetus to Immunosuppressive Drugs Used by the Mother-The Organ Recipient-Affect the Development of Post-Vaccination Immunity against Selected Viral Diseases in Children of These Mothers in Postnatal Life?

Background: Pregnancy in women who are organ recipients has long been a controversial issue due to the lack of data on the safety of immunosuppressive drugs for the developing foetus. Scientific data show that the effect of immunosuppressants on the foetus causes an impairment of T and B lymphocyte function and a reduction in their total number. For this reason, some authors recommend delaying the obligatory immunization of infants. The aim of the study is to analyse the impact of chronic immunosuppressive therapy used during pregnancy by women after organ transplantation on the effectiveness of anti-viral vaccinations in the children of these women.

Methods: Concentrations of post-vaccination IgG antibodies (measles, HBV, polio) in 18 children of post-transplant mothers (9KTRs; 9LTRs) were determined using the ELISA method. The results were compared with the control group (n = 21). The incidence of vaccination AEs was also analysed.

Results: There were no significant differences between the analysed groups in the concentrations of antibodies against HBV, measles and polio (p > 0.05).

Conclusions: No difference was observed in the immunogenicity of HBV, polio and measles vaccinations between children of post-transplant mothers and the general population. The immunization of children of post-transplant mothers is safe, and the percentage of adverse post-vaccination events does not differ from the general population. The obtained study results do not indicate the necessity for modifying the vaccination program for HBV, measles, and polio in this group of patients.