[Immediate adverse reactions after administration of the influenza vaccine to patients with positive CAP-RAST to egg white]

Abstract

We investigated the safety of administration of influenza vaccine to patients with positive CAP-RAST to egg white. The content of OVA in the influenza vaccine preparations was measured by Sandwich ELISA. The concentration of OVA in the vaccine preparations ranged from 2 to 8 ng/ml. We administered influenza vaccine to 36 high risk patients who had positive CAP-RAST (> 4 score) to egg white and/or had experienced immediate type hypersensitivity after ingestion of egg. One out of them showed local swelling. All the rest of the patients received influenza vaccine without any serious systemic adverse reactions. We also investigated the incidence of immediate adverse reactions after vaccination in the group of 104 patients with positive CAP-RAST to egg white compared to the group of 98 patients with negative CAP-RAST. No significant difference was found in the incidence of adverse reaction between the two groups (group of positive CAP-RAST to egg white: 0.5%, negative group: 2.2%). These results demonstrate that most of the patients with positive CAP-RAST to egg white, even those with allergic reactions after egg ingestion, can safely receive an influenza vaccine.