The influence of sequential annual vaccination and of DHEA administration on the efficacy of the immune response to influenza vaccine in the elderly

A. Ben-Yehuda*, H. D. Danenberg, Z. Zakay-Rones, D. J. Gross, G. Friedman

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

28 Scopus citations

Abstract

The present study examined the effect of repeated vaccination and of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) treatment on the immune response to influenza vaccine in elderly subjects. Seventy-one elderly volunteers, aged 61-89 years, enrolled in a prospective randomized, double-blind study to receive either DHEA (50 mg qd p.o. for 4 consecutive days starting 2 days before immunization) or placebo. Antibody response against the three strains of vaccine was measured before and 28 days after vaccination, and compared between previously vaccinated and non-vaccinated subjects. DHEA treatment did not enhance established immunity. A significant decrease in attainment of protective antibody titer (titer of 1:40 or greater) against A/Texas in subjects with non-protective baseline antibody titer was recorded following DHEA treatment compared to placebo (52 vs. 84%, P < 0.05). Post-immunization titers against influenza A strains were significantly higher in those subjects who were never immunized before. Additionally, post-vaccination protective titers against the A/Johannesburg strain were more prevalent in those subjects who were never vaccinated before. The results were not the same for anti-B/Harbin antibodies - repeated vaccination caused a non-significant increase in HI titer in previously vaccinated subjects.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)299-306
Number of pages8
JournalMechanisms of Ageing and Development
Volume102
Issue number2-3
DOIs
StatePublished - 15 May 1998

Keywords

  • Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)
  • Elderly
  • Influenza vaccine

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