[Studies on rubella vaccination in adult females. II: Hormonal influence on clinical reactions].

All rubella vaccines may, on occasion, cause mild and transient clinical reactions, especially joint symptoms, which occur most commonly in females with increase in frequency and severity with advancing age. These facts suggested the role of hormonal influences. To clarify the role of hormonal influences on the development of clinical reactions, 110 vaccinees, aged 18-30 years (mean age; 20.9 year), who received TO-336 vaccine were examined for their menstrual cycles and basal body temperature (BBT). Clinical reactions were noticed in 33 cases (30.0%), including 26 cases with joint symptoms, 12 cases with lymphadenopathy and 1 case with a rash. Clinical reactions, especially joint symptoms, were observed significantly more often in vaccinees when the vaccine was given at the high phase on BBT than in vaccinees when the vaccine was given at the low phase on BBT. Serum progesterones were radioimmunoassayed at an interval of 7 days for 6 weeks after vaccination in 88 vaccinees (80.0%) of 110. Clinical reactions, especially joint symptoms, occurred more commonly in vaccinees who received vaccine at the progestational stage than in vaccinees who received it at the estrogenic and menstrual stages. But there was not a significant difference of progesterone levels between the reaction group and non-reaction group who received vaccine at the progestational stage. These results mentioned above were confirmed at any age groups; 18-20, 21-25 and 26-30 year of age. But there was not a significant difference of antibody response by the stage when the vaccine was given. Initial clinical reaction occurred commonly at the menstrual stage. According to the periods of the hormonal stage, clinical reactions, especially joint symptoms, occurred more commonly at the menstrual stage, but least commonly at the progestational stage.