Antibody response to polysaccharide conjugate vaccines after nonmyeloablative allogeneic stem cell transplantation

Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. 2009 Dec;15(12):1523-30. doi: 10.1016/j.bbmt.2009.07.020. Epub 2009 Sep 25.

Abstract

After allogeneic stem cell transplantation with reduced-intensity conditioning regimens (allo-RIST) patients are susceptible to bacterial and viral infections for a period that may last several years. The efficacy of the recommended vaccination schedules, in terms of induction of a protective antibody response, is unknown. In this study, the reconstitution of humoral immunity after allo-RIST is determined by measuring the vaccination-induced antibody response against Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), and tetanus toxoid (TT) 1 year posttransplantation. Patients who underwent allo-RIST were vaccinated according to a schedule starting at 12 months following transplantation with conjugated vaccines against S. pneumoniae, Hib, and TT. Of twenty-six patients both pre- and postvaccination sera were available. Patients were required to be off immunosuppression at the time of vaccination, and, therefore, 9 of the 26 patients did not start vaccination at 12 months post-stem cell transplantation but rather at a median range of 15 (12-36 months) posttransplantation. Except for pneumococcal serotype 6B, more than 73% of the patients developed antibody levels >or=0.35 microg/mL for all pneumococcal serotypes included in the vaccine. For Hib and TT, protective antibody levels were found in 77% and 96% of the patients, respectively. Vaccination of patients at a median of 15 months post-allo-RIST leads to significant rise in concentrations of pneumococcal, Hib, and TT antibodies in the majority of patients.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / biosynthesis*
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / immunology
  • Female
  • Haemophilus influenzae type b / immunology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pneumococcal Vaccines / administration & dosage
  • Pneumococcal Vaccines / immunology*
  • Stem Cell Transplantation*
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae / immunology
  • Tetanus Toxoid / immunology
  • Transplantation Conditioning / methods
  • Vaccines, Conjugate / administration & dosage
  • Vaccines, Conjugate / immunology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • Pneumococcal Vaccines
  • Tetanus Toxoid
  • Vaccines, Conjugate