Scientific Reports (Dec 2021)

Influenza virus vaccination in pediatric nephrotic syndrome significantly reduces rate of relapse and influenza virus infection as assessed in a nationwide survey

  • Shingo Ishimori,
  • Takashi Ando,
  • Kaori Kikunaga,
  • Chikako Terano,
  • Mai Sato,
  • Fumiyo Komaki,
  • Riku Hamada,
  • Yuko Hamasaki,
  • Yoshinori Araki,
  • Yoshimitsu Gotoh,
  • Koichi Nakanishi,
  • Hitoshi Nakazato,
  • Takeshi Matsuyama,
  • Kazumoto Iijima,
  • Norishige Yoshikawa,
  • Shuichi Ito,
  • Masataka Honda,
  • Kenji Ishikura

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-02644-x
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11, no. 1
pp. 1 – 9

Abstract

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Abstract Although vaccination may precipitate relapses of nephrotic syndrome (NS) in children with idiopathic NS, no data are available regarding NS activity regarding influenza (flu) virus infections and NS relapses after receiving inactivated flu vaccines. We conducted a nationwide study of children aged 6 months to 15 years with idiopathic NS to assess the relationship between NS relapse, flu vaccination, and flu infections. We used a multivariate Poisson regression model (MPRM) to calculate the risk ratio (RR) for flu infection and for NS relapse in children with and without flu vaccination. Data of 306 children were assessed. The MPRM in all 306 children showed a significantly lower RR for flu infection (RR: 0.21, 95% confidence interval CI 0.11–0.38) and for NS relapse (RR: 0.22, 95% CI 0.14–0.35) in children receiving flu vaccination compared with unvaccinated children. In an additional MPRM only among 102 children receiving flu vaccination, they had a significantly lower risk for NS relapse during the post-vaccination period (RR: 0.31. 95% CI 017–0.56) compared with the pre-vaccination period. Although our study was observational, based on the favorable results of flu vaccinations regarding flu infections and NS relapse, the vaccine may be recommended for children with NS.