Regular Article

British Journal of Cancer (2000) 83, 956–958. doi:10.1054/bjoc.2000.1382 www.bjcancer.com
Published online 5 September 2000

Haemophilus influenzae type B vaccination and risk of childhood leukaemia in a vaccine trial in Finland

A Auvinen1,2, T Hakulinen3,4 and F Groves5

  1. 1STUK – Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority, P.O. Box 14, Helsinki, FIN-00881, Finland
  2. 2School of Public Health, University of Tampere, Tampere, FIN-33014, Finland
  3. 3Finnish Cancer Registry, Liisankatu 21 B, Helsinki, FIN-00170, Finland
  4. 4Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 441, Helsinki, FIN-00014, Finland
  5. 5Department of Biometry and Epidemiology, Medical University of South Carolina, P.O. Box 250551, Charleston, SC 29425, USA

Received 14 February 2000; Revised 13 May 2000; Accepted 8 June 2000.

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Abstract

Incidence of childhood leukaemia was studied among subjects of a trial comparing administration of several doses of a conjugate vaccine against Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) starting at an early age (three months) with a single dose given at the age of two years. Among 114 000 subjects, a total of 77 cases of childhood leukaemia were detected. The incidence of childhood leukaemia was lower in the early vaccination arm (relative risk 0.72, 95% confidence interval 0.46–1.13) than late vaccination arm, but the difference did not reach statistical significance. Our results suggest that early immunization against Hib may reduce the incidence of childhood leukaemia, but confirmatory studies are needed. © 2000 Cancer Research Campaign

Keywords:

leukaemia, child, vaccinations, Haemophilus influenzae type b, Haemophilus influenzae type b polysaccharide vaccine diphtheria toxoid conjugate, clinical trials

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