Arch Dis Child 1998;78:61-63 ( January )
Persistence of protective immunity after postexposure prophylaxis
of varicella with oral aciclovir in the family setting
Tetsushi Yoshikawa,a
Sadao Suga,a
Toru Kozawa,b
Shinji Kawaguchi,c
Yoshizo Asanoa
a Department of Paediatrics, Fujita
Health University School of Medicine, Toyoake, Aichi, Japan, b Kozawa Paediatric
Clinic, Toyokawa, Aichi, Japan, c Department of
Paediatrics, Toyokawa Municipal Hospital, Toyokawa, Aichi,
Japan
Correspondence to: Dr
Tetsushi Yoshikawa, Department of Paediatrics, Fujita Health University
School of Medicine, Toyoake, Aichi 470-11, Japan.
Accepted 31 July 1997
The persistence of protective immunity after postexposure
prophylaxis against varicella using oral aciclovir was evaluated in the
family setting. Sixty one of 78 recipients of oral aciclovir were
assessed by questionnaire, and 13 of 61 were evaluated for serum
antibody to varicella zoster virus (VZV) using the fluorescent antibody
to membrane antigen method. The observation period ranged from 33 to 50 months. None of those (n = 44) who had initially seroconverted to VZV
after aciclovir prophylaxis developed breakthrough varicella. All 13 who had serology repeated still had titres 
4. Antibody titres in
those who had histories of re-exposure to the virus were significantly
higher than in those who had not (p<0.01).
Keywords:
aciclovir;
postexposure prophylaxis;
varicella;
persistence of immunity
© 1998 by Archives of Disease in Childhood
