Vaccine coverage, antibodies against measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis B in inflammatory bowel disease and juvenile idiopathic arthritis children

BACKGROUND Children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) face an elevated risk of severe infection owing to their diseases and the immunosuppressive treatment for disease control. AIM To compare scheduled vaccination coverage and the levels of post-vaccine antibodies against measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) and hepatitis B in pediatric patients with IBD and JIA. METHODS A comparative cohort study included 97 patients with IBD and 170 patients with JIA. Vaccination history was obtained from medical records, while post-vaccination immunity was assessed prospectively by measuring specific IgG antibody titers using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (Vector-Best JSC, Russia; IBL International, Germany) during routine visits between January 2022 and April 2023. RESULTS A complete two-dose MMR course had been administered to 66.3% of IBD patients and 55.9% of JIA patients (P = 0.121). By contrast, the three-dose hepatitis B schedule was completed in 74.2 % of IBD and 100 % of JIA patients (P < 0.001). Protective level of anti-vaccine antibodies against measles (47.7% vs 57.7%; P = 0.168); mumps (75.3% vs 80.0%; P = 0.366); rubella (74.4% vs 98.2%; P < 0.0001); and hepatitis B (44.8% vs 50.0%; P = 0.514) were detected in IBD and JIA patients, respectively. CONCLUSION Patients with IBD and JIA demonstrated different vaccination coverage patterns and levels of anti-vaccine antibodies. Routine baseline serology and timely booster vaccination should be implemented for all pediatric patients receiving chronic immunosuppression.