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Pertussis Immunization During Pregnancy: Effect in Term and Preterm Infants

Conditions
Pertussis
Interventions
Drug: Infant pertussis vaccination
Registration Number
NCT02511327
Lead Sponsor
Universiteit Antwerpen
Brief Summary

Young infants are most vulnerable to severe disease and even death when infected with Bordetella Pertussis. The current vaccines and vaccination programs do not guarantee protection of neonates. During the last weeks of pregnancy, maternal IgG antibodies are transferred actively to the fetus. Administration of a pertussis containing vaccine during pregnancy offers protection through high titers of maternal antibodies transferred to the child. Since transplacental transport is immature, infants who are born prior to 37 weeks of gestation, might be vulnerable to pertussis infection even though maternal vaccination was administered, but specific data are lacking. The primary aim of this observational study is to measure whether vaccination during pregnancy offers protection to preterm born infants through higher titers of maternal antibodies, despite immature transplacental transport. Four cohorts of mother-infant pairs will be recruited: term versus preterm born infants, born from either vaccinated women or not vaccinated women. These mother-infant pairs are recruited according to the vaccination status of the mother and to the gestational age at delivery. Pertussis specific antibody titers (anti-Pertussis Toxin, anti-Filamentous haemagglutinin, anti-Pertactin titers) will be monitored in blood samples of the mothers at delivery to measure the possible influence of both gestational age and maternal vaccination status. In order to measure the decline of maternal antibodies in the first weeks of life, blood will be taken from cords as well as from infants at 8 weeks of age, before the first infant pertussis vaccine is administered.

Pertussis antibodies to the same antigens will be measured in all infants after a primary series of acellular pertussis vaccines administered at 8,12 and 16 weeks of age and before and after a booster dose in the second year of life.

In addition, cellular mediated immune responses will be evaluated in a subgroup of infants before and after a primary series of infants vaccines. A last goal is to measure whether vaccination during pregnancy could offer additional maternal antibodies through breast milk. Again a comparison is made between preterm and term born infants, born from either vaccinated or unvaccinated women. The amount of lactoferrin and pertussis toxin specific IgA in breast milk samples will be measured in samples taken at birth (colostrum), and at several time points afterwards as long as breastfeeding is continued.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
UNKNOWN
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
232
Inclusion Criteria

Not provided

Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Study & Design

Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Study Design
Not specified
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Preterm born infants of vaccinated womenInfant pertussis vaccinationPreterm born infants (\< 37 weeks of gestation) whose mothers have received an acellular pertussis vaccine during pregnancy, within the national recommended vaccination programme. Infant vaccination against pertussis is performed according to the national recommended schedule.
Term born infants vaccinated womenInfant pertussis vaccinationTerm born infants (\>= 37 weeks of gestation) whose mothers have received an acellular pertussis vaccine during pregnancy, within the national recommended vaccination programme. Infant vaccination against pertussis is performed according to the national recommended schedule.
Preterm born infants unvaccinated womenInfant pertussis vaccinationPreterm born infants (\< 37 weeks of gestation) whose mothers have not received an acellular pertussis vaccine during pregnancy.Infant vaccination against pertussis is performed according to the national recommended schedule.
Term born infants unvaccinated womenInfant pertussis vaccinationTerm born infants (\>= 37 weeks of gestation) whose mothers have not received an acellular pertussis vaccine during pregnancy. Infant vaccination against pertussis is performed according to the national recommended schedule.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Titers of maternal pertussis specific antibodiesFrom birth until 8 weeks of age

Anti-Pertussis Toxin, anti-Filamentous Haemagglutinin and anti-pertactin immunoglobulin IgG titers, measured in blood samples taken from cord and at week 8 postpartum in all participating infants

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Titers of pertussis specific antibodies in infants after 3 doses of a pertussis vaccineAt the age of 5 months

Anti-Pertussis Toxin, anti-Filamentous Haemagglutinin and anti-pertactin immunoglobulin IgG titers, measured in blood samples taken at 5 months (after a primary series of 3 vaccines)

Titers of pertussis specific antibodies in infants before and after a fourth dose of a pertussis vaccineFrom 13 to 16 months

Anti-Pertussis Toxin, anti-Filamentous Haemagglutinin and anti-pertactin immunoglobulin IgG titers, measured in blood samples taken before and 1 month after a fourth pertussis vaccine

Titers of pertussis specific IgA antibodies in breast milkFrom birth until 3 months postpartum

Measurement of anti-Pertussis Toxin IgA, total IgA and lactoferrin titers in breast milk samples taken at birth, at week 4, 8 and 12

Titers of pertussis specific antibodies in infants in-between the fourth and fifth dose of a pertussis vaccineAround 3 years of age

Anti-Pertussis Toxin, anti-Filamentous Haemagglutinin and anti-pertactin immunoglobulin IgG titers, measured in blood samples taken before and 1 month after a fourth pertussis vaccine

Th1 immune responses in preterm and term born infants before and after a primary series of infant pertussis vaccinesFrom 8 weeks of age until 16 months of age

Measurement of Th1 markers in a convenience sample of infants after primary and booster pertussis vaccination

Th2 immune responses in preterm and term born infants before and after a primary series of infant pertussis vaccinesFrom 8 weeks of age until 16 months of age

Measurement of Th2 markers in a convenience sample of infants after primary and booster pertussis vaccination

Titers of pertussis specific antibodies in infants before and after a fifth dose of a pertussis vaccineFrom 5 to 6 years of age

Anti-Pertussis Toxin, anti-Filamentous Haemagglutinin and anti-pertactin immunoglobulin IgG titers, measured in blood samples taken before and 1 month after a fourth pertussis vaccine

Th1 & Th2 immune responses in preterm and term born infants before and after a fifth booster dose of a pertussis vaccineFrom 5 to 6 years of age

Measurement of Th1 and Th2 markers in a convenience sample of infants before and after a pertussis booster vaccination

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Antwerp

🇧🇪

Antwerp, Belgium

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