Risk factors for loss of Varicella immunity after pediatric kidney transplantation.

Background: Varicella zoster (VZV) vaccination pre-kidney transplant (Tx) can help prevent severe disseminated VZV in immunosuppressed recipients; however, studies have shown loss of humoral immunity post-Tx. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 45 pediatric kidney Tx recipients with positive pre-Tx...

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Published in:Pediatric Nephrology Vol. 41; no. 3; pp. 837 - 845
Main Authors: Pizzo, Helen, Soni, Priya R., Nadipuram, Santhosh, Mirocha, James, Garrison, Jonathan, Hilario, Sherlyn, Puliyanda, Dechu
Format: research tables/charts Journal Article
Published: Springer Nature Mar2026
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
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      dt: Mar2026
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      pub: Springer Nature
      place: New York, New York
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        10.1007/s00467-025-07022-7
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        atl: Risk factors for loss of Varicella immunity after pediatric kidney transplantation.
      aug:
        au:
          Pizzo, Helen
          Soni, Priya R.
          Nadipuram, Santhosh
          Mirocha, James
          Garrison, Jonathan
          Hilario, Sherlyn
          Puliyanda, Dechu
        affil: https://ror.org/02pammg90 Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Guerin Children's, 8700 Beverly Blvd., 90048, Los Angeles, CA, USA
      sug:
        subj:
          Kidney Transplantation In Infancy and Childhood
          Chickenpox Risk Factors
          Herpes Zoster Risk Factors
          Chickenpox Immunology
          Herpes Zoster Immunology
          Immunity
          Risk Assessment
          Human
          Child
          Adolescence
          Male
          Female
          Funding Source
          Retrospective Design
          Record Review
          Nonexperimental Studies
          Descriptive Statistics
          Immunosuppression
          Antibodies
          Confidence Intervals
          Immunization
          Seroconversion
          Mycophenolate Mofetil
          Tacrolimus
          Immunoenzyme Techniques
          Serology
          Wilcoxon Rank Sum Test
          Fisher's Exact Test
          Kaplan-Meier Estimator
          Log-Rank Test
          Cox Proportional Hazards Model
          Data Analysis Software
          Chickenpox Vaccine Administration and Dosage
          Herpes Zoster Vaccine Administration and Dosage
          Immunoglobulins
          Child: 6-12 years
          Adolescent: 13-18 years
          Male
          Female
      ab: Background: Varicella zoster (VZV) vaccination pre-kidney transplant (Tx) can help prevent severe disseminated VZV in immunosuppressed recipients; however, studies have shown loss of humoral immunity post-Tx. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 45 pediatric kidney Tx recipients with positive pre-Tx VZV IgG (>1.09 index). VZV IgG was assessed annually and compared with the induction agent used, the number of VZV vaccines received, and the interval between the last dose of VZV vaccine and Tx. Results: Median age at Tx was 16.7 years (IQR 12.7–18.5). 11 of 45 (24.4%) patients lost immunity to VZV at a median of 12.6 months post-Tx. Those who lost VZV immunity were younger at the time of Tx, 12.4 years vs. 17.3 years (P = 0.05) and more likely to be on steroid-based immunosuppression 81.8% vs. 32.4% (P = 0.006). There were no differences between the induction agents used and the ability to maintain VZV IgG antibodies. Subjects who required ≥3 doses of VZV vaccine to develop VZV IgG seropositivity were at a higher risk for losing their anti-varicella antibody post-Tx (HR 3.81, 95% CI 1.09–13.30, P = 0.04). Receiving VZV vaccination <1 year prior to kidney Tx was associated with a higher risk for losing anti-varicella antibody after Tx (HR 6.97, 95% CI 2.08–23.34). Conclusion: In this small cohort, pediatric kidney Tx recipients are more likely to lose VZV IgG in those who were younger at the time of Tx, on steroid-based immunosuppression, required 3 or more doses of VZV vaccination to seroconvert, or received VZV vaccine <1 year before Tx.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        research
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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