Childhood vaccinations and risk of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in children

TY - JOUR

T1 - Childhood vaccinations and risk of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in children

AU - Søegaard, Signe Holst

AU - Rostgaard, Klaus

AU - Schmiegelow, Kjeld

AU - Kamper-Jørgensen, Mads

AU - Hargreave, Marie

AU - Hjalgrim, Henrik

AU - Hviid, Anders

PY - 2017/6/1

Y1 - 2017/6/1

N2 - Background: It has been proposed that childhood vaccinations protect against acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) in children by modulation of future responses to common infections in childhood. However, the available studies provide inconsistent findings, and population-based cohort studies with longitudinal information on vaccinations are lacking.Methods: In a register-based cohort of all children born in Denmark from 1 January 1990 to 31 December 2008, followed up until age 15 years or 31 December 2009 (n=1 225 404), we evaluated exposure to childhood vaccination and risk of childhood ALL, including information on ALL subtypes. Using Cox regression, we estimated hazard ratios (HRs) comparing vaccinated with unvaccinated children.Results: Childhood ALL was diagnosed in 490 children during 10 829 194 person-years of follow-up. Neither the total number of vaccine doses received nor exposure to each vaccination given in childhood was associated with altered risk of ALL, including the following: (i) Haemophilus influenzae type b [HR, 1.04; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.68-1.61]; ii) measles, mumps and rubella (HR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.76-1.34); iii) whole-cell pertussis (HR, 1.10; 95% CI, 0.51-2.39); and iv) diphtheria, tetanus and inactivated polio (HR, 1.14; 95% CI, 0.42-3.13). Analyses conducted according to ALL subtypes defined by immunopheno- and karyotypes showed no association with childhood vaccination.Conclusions: This nationwide cohort study provides no support of the proposed protective effect of childhood vaccination against childhood ALL.

AB - Background: It has been proposed that childhood vaccinations protect against acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) in children by modulation of future responses to common infections in childhood. However, the available studies provide inconsistent findings, and population-based cohort studies with longitudinal information on vaccinations are lacking.Methods: In a register-based cohort of all children born in Denmark from 1 January 1990 to 31 December 2008, followed up until age 15 years or 31 December 2009 (n=1 225 404), we evaluated exposure to childhood vaccination and risk of childhood ALL, including information on ALL subtypes. Using Cox regression, we estimated hazard ratios (HRs) comparing vaccinated with unvaccinated children.Results: Childhood ALL was diagnosed in 490 children during 10 829 194 person-years of follow-up. Neither the total number of vaccine doses received nor exposure to each vaccination given in childhood was associated with altered risk of ALL, including the following: (i) Haemophilus influenzae type b [HR, 1.04; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.68-1.61]; ii) measles, mumps and rubella (HR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.76-1.34); iii) whole-cell pertussis (HR, 1.10; 95% CI, 0.51-2.39); and iv) diphtheria, tetanus and inactivated polio (HR, 1.14; 95% CI, 0.42-3.13). Analyses conducted according to ALL subtypes defined by immunopheno- and karyotypes showed no association with childhood vaccination.Conclusions: This nationwide cohort study provides no support of the proposed protective effect of childhood vaccination against childhood ALL.

KW - Aetiology

KW - Childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

KW - Cohort study

KW - Vaccination

U2 - 10.1093/ije/dyx052

DO - 10.1093/ije/dyx052

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:85027691987

SN - 0300-5771

VL - 46

SP - 905

EP - 913

JO - International Journal of Epidemiology

JF - International Journal of Epidemiology

IS - 3

M1 - dyx052

ER -