Varicella infection can be systemic and fatal to immunosuppressed host such as children with NS on long term high dose steroid therapy, or those receiving cytotoxic agents. Varivax® was recently approved for use in healthy children. This study was done to determine the response of children with NS to Varivax®.

Thirteen children ages 4 to 12 years diagnosed with NS, off steroids for at least 1 month, in remission (serum albumin >2.5g/dl), received 0.5 ml of Varivax® subcutaneously. Paired sera were collected pre and 4-6 weeks post-vaccination. Antibody(Ab) response was measured by immunofluorescent assay(IFA, positive titer ≥ 1:10) and enzyme immunoassay (EIA, positive titer PIV ≥1.0). After one dose of vaccine, only two were antibody positive by both assays, and the rest seroconverted after the second dose. None developed any local reaction, fever, or rash. Three children had relapse of the NS 4 weeks after the vaccination.

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