Varicella vaccination in children with nephrotic syndrome: a report of the Southwest Pediatric Nephrology Study Group.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of varicella vaccine in children with nephrotic syndrome, including those taking low-dose, alternate-day prednisone.

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, open-label, multicenter clinical trial of varicella vaccine in a 2-dose regimen in US and Canadian children (12 months to <18 years) with nephrotic syndrome. Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV) antibody levels were measured after the first and second vaccine dose and yearly for 2 years. Patients were monitored for adverse reactions to vaccine, exposure to varicella, dermatomal zoster, and chickenpox.

RESULTS: Twenty-nine children, mean age 4.9 (SD 1.9) years, 45% receiving every-other-day steroids, received 2 vaccine doses. All patients seroconverted and had VZV antibody levels considered protective against breakthrough varicella (>or=5 gpELISA units) after 2 doses. At 2-year follow-up, all patients retained detectable antibody, and 91% (21 of 23) had levels >or=5 gpELISA units. There were no adverse events associated with vaccination.

CONCLUSIONS: Varicella vaccine was generally well tolerated and highly immunogenic in children with nephrotic syndrome, including those on low-dose, alternate-day prednisone.