The response in hemagglutinoinhibiting antibodies following influenza vaccination of HIV-infected children.

The study investigated the response in hemagglutinoinhibiting antibodies (HI) induced by the purified inactivated trivalent influenza vaccine prepared for the epidemic season 1996-1997, administered to a group of 24 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected children as compared to a group of HIV seronegative controls. The titres of serum HI antibodies were determined before and 30 days after vaccination. The evolution of the immune response in HIV seropositive children showed significant increases against all the antigenic components of influenza vaccine both as concerning the geometrical mean titres of HI antibodies and the protection rate (titres > or = 1:40). However, the amplitude of the immune response reported in the HIV seropositive group was lower, but insignificantly as compared to the HIV seronegative control group. No association between the individual response in HI antibodies and the determined amount of CD4' T lymphocytes was noticed.