Application of live attenuated measles and mumps vaccines in children with acute leukemia.

Abstract

Eight children with acute leukemia in remission were immunized with live attenuated measles vaccine and 4 with mumps vaccine. Immunological examinations before vaccination showed that the numbers of white blood cells, percentages of lymphocytes, levels of immunoglobulins and responses to skin tests with DNCB, PPD, PHA and varicella antigen were within normal ranges in most of these children. Chemotherapy against leukemia was stopped for 2 weeks, from one week before to one week after vaccination. One child had a transient fever 10 days after measles vaccination, but no side reactions were observed in the others. Seroconversion was observed in all but one child who received measles vaccine, and neutralizing antibodies have persisted for at least 4 weeks and at most 3 years, when this study was terminated.