Safety and Efficacy of Influenza Vaccination in Kidney Graft Recipients in Late Period After Kidney Transplantation

Background/Objectives: Influenza is a viral infection affecting up to 20% of the general population annually. Solid organ transplant recipients have a higher morbidity and mortality risk, as well as a greater likelihood of severe disease complications. Vaccination against the influenza virus is a sa...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Anna Zawiasa-Bryszewska, Maja Nowicka, Monika Górska, Piotr Edyko, Krzysztof Edyko, Damian Tworek, Adam Antczak, Jacek Burzyński, Ilona Kurnatowska
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Vaccines
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/13/2/189
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850079483393998848
author Anna Zawiasa-Bryszewska
Maja Nowicka
Monika Górska
Piotr Edyko
Krzysztof Edyko
Damian Tworek
Adam Antczak
Jacek Burzyński
Ilona Kurnatowska
author_facet Anna Zawiasa-Bryszewska
Maja Nowicka
Monika Górska
Piotr Edyko
Krzysztof Edyko
Damian Tworek
Adam Antczak
Jacek Burzyński
Ilona Kurnatowska
author_sort Anna Zawiasa-Bryszewska
collection DOAJ
description Background/Objectives: Influenza is a viral infection affecting up to 20% of the general population annually. Solid organ transplant recipients have a higher morbidity and mortality risk, as well as a greater likelihood of severe disease complications. Vaccination against the influenza virus is a safe and recommended prophylaxis; however, immunosuppression and high comorbidity burdens impair the immune response. We assessed the efficacy, safety, and humoral response to influenza vaccine in a population of kidney transplant recipients (KTx). Methods: Adult KTx recipients at least 6 months post-KTx were divided into vaccinated (vKTx) and non-vaccinated (nvKTx) groups based on consent for vaccination. The vKTx group received one dose of quadrivalent split virion inactivated vaccine (Vaxigrip Tetra Sanofi Pasteur). Subjective symptoms and side effects were recorded in paper journals. Antibody levels were assessed with ELISA prior to and 3 months following vaccination. Serum creatinine and proteinuria were assessed prior to vaccination as well as 3 and 6 months after. Results: Of 450 recruited KTx recipients, 91 in the vKTx group and 36 in the nvKTx group of comparable age, KTx vintage, and graft function were included in the study. Graft function and proteinuria remained stable in both groups. The vKTx group experienced no severe adverse events. The most common complaints were general malaise (20.5%) and injection site pain (10.3%). Overall infection rates were comparable, yet the vKTx group experienced significantly fewer serious infections (11.4% vs. 32.3%, <i>p</i> = 0.01); the vKTx group showed a greater increase of Influenza A IgM (<i>p</i> = 0.05) and Influenza B IgG (<i>p</i> = 0.01) compared with the nvKTx group. Conclusions: Influenza vaccination prevents severe infections in KTx recipients, with good serological response and no impact on graft function or severe adverse events.
format Article
id doaj-art-2e8d3bbf27194ee8bcdf165a45d7d7d6
institution DOAJ
issn 2076-393X
language English
publishDate 2025-02-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Vaccines
spelling doaj-art-2e8d3bbf27194ee8bcdf165a45d7d7d62025-08-20T02:45:11ZengMDPI AGVaccines2076-393X2025-02-0113218910.3390/vaccines13020189Safety and Efficacy of Influenza Vaccination in Kidney Graft Recipients in Late Period After Kidney TransplantationAnna Zawiasa-Bryszewska0Maja Nowicka1Monika Górska2Piotr Edyko3Krzysztof Edyko4Damian Tworek5Adam Antczak6Jacek Burzyński7Ilona Kurnatowska8Department of Internal Medicine and Transplant Nephrology, Medical University of Lodz, 90-419 Lodz, PolandDepartment of Internal Medicine and Transplant Nephrology, Medical University of Lodz, 90-419 Lodz, PolandDepartment of Internal Medicine and Transplant Nephrology, Medical University of Lodz, 90-419 Lodz, PolandDepartment of Internal Medicine and Transplant Nephrology, Medical University of Lodz, 90-419 Lodz, PolandStudent Scientific Society Affiliated with the Department of Internal Medicine and Transplant Nephrology, Chair of Pulmonology, Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Medical University of Lodz, 90-419 Lodz, PolandDepartment of General and Oncological Pulmonology, Medical University of Lodz, 90-419 Lodz, PolandDepartment of General and Oncological Pulmonology, Medical University of Lodz, 90-419 Lodz, PolandDepartment of Statistics and Translational Medicine, Medical University of Lodz, 90-419 Lodz, PolandDepartment of Internal Medicine and Transplant Nephrology, Medical University of Lodz, 90-419 Lodz, PolandBackground/Objectives: Influenza is a viral infection affecting up to 20% of the general population annually. Solid organ transplant recipients have a higher morbidity and mortality risk, as well as a greater likelihood of severe disease complications. Vaccination against the influenza virus is a safe and recommended prophylaxis; however, immunosuppression and high comorbidity burdens impair the immune response. We assessed the efficacy, safety, and humoral response to influenza vaccine in a population of kidney transplant recipients (KTx). Methods: Adult KTx recipients at least 6 months post-KTx were divided into vaccinated (vKTx) and non-vaccinated (nvKTx) groups based on consent for vaccination. The vKTx group received one dose of quadrivalent split virion inactivated vaccine (Vaxigrip Tetra Sanofi Pasteur). Subjective symptoms and side effects were recorded in paper journals. Antibody levels were assessed with ELISA prior to and 3 months following vaccination. Serum creatinine and proteinuria were assessed prior to vaccination as well as 3 and 6 months after. Results: Of 450 recruited KTx recipients, 91 in the vKTx group and 36 in the nvKTx group of comparable age, KTx vintage, and graft function were included in the study. Graft function and proteinuria remained stable in both groups. The vKTx group experienced no severe adverse events. The most common complaints were general malaise (20.5%) and injection site pain (10.3%). Overall infection rates were comparable, yet the vKTx group experienced significantly fewer serious infections (11.4% vs. 32.3%, <i>p</i> = 0.01); the vKTx group showed a greater increase of Influenza A IgM (<i>p</i> = 0.05) and Influenza B IgG (<i>p</i> = 0.01) compared with the nvKTx group. Conclusions: Influenza vaccination prevents severe infections in KTx recipients, with good serological response and no impact on graft function or severe adverse events.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/13/2/189influenza virustransplant recipientsantibody response
spellingShingle Anna Zawiasa-Bryszewska
Maja Nowicka
Monika Górska
Piotr Edyko
Krzysztof Edyko
Damian Tworek
Adam Antczak
Jacek Burzyński
Ilona Kurnatowska
Safety and Efficacy of Influenza Vaccination in Kidney Graft Recipients in Late Period After Kidney Transplantation
Vaccines
influenza virus
transplant recipients
antibody response
title Safety and Efficacy of Influenza Vaccination in Kidney Graft Recipients in Late Period After Kidney Transplantation
title_full Safety and Efficacy of Influenza Vaccination in Kidney Graft Recipients in Late Period After Kidney Transplantation
title_fullStr Safety and Efficacy of Influenza Vaccination in Kidney Graft Recipients in Late Period After Kidney Transplantation
title_full_unstemmed Safety and Efficacy of Influenza Vaccination in Kidney Graft Recipients in Late Period After Kidney Transplantation
title_short Safety and Efficacy of Influenza Vaccination in Kidney Graft Recipients in Late Period After Kidney Transplantation
title_sort safety and efficacy of influenza vaccination in kidney graft recipients in late period after kidney transplantation
topic influenza virus
transplant recipients
antibody response
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/13/2/189
work_keys_str_mv AT annazawiasabryszewska safetyandefficacyofinfluenzavaccinationinkidneygraftrecipientsinlateperiodafterkidneytransplantation
AT majanowicka safetyandefficacyofinfluenzavaccinationinkidneygraftrecipientsinlateperiodafterkidneytransplantation
AT monikagorska safetyandefficacyofinfluenzavaccinationinkidneygraftrecipientsinlateperiodafterkidneytransplantation
AT piotredyko safetyandefficacyofinfluenzavaccinationinkidneygraftrecipientsinlateperiodafterkidneytransplantation
AT krzysztofedyko safetyandefficacyofinfluenzavaccinationinkidneygraftrecipientsinlateperiodafterkidneytransplantation
AT damiantworek safetyandefficacyofinfluenzavaccinationinkidneygraftrecipientsinlateperiodafterkidneytransplantation
AT adamantczak safetyandefficacyofinfluenzavaccinationinkidneygraftrecipientsinlateperiodafterkidneytransplantation
AT jacekburzynski safetyandefficacyofinfluenzavaccinationinkidneygraftrecipientsinlateperiodafterkidneytransplantation
AT ilonakurnatowska safetyandefficacyofinfluenzavaccinationinkidneygraftrecipientsinlateperiodafterkidneytransplantation