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Serologic response to a 23‐valent pneumococcal vaccine administered prior to autologous stem cell transplantation in patients with multiple myeloma
Author(s) -
Hinge Maja,
Ingels Helene A.S.,
Slotved HansChristian,
Mølle Ingolf
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
apmis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.909
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1600-0463
pISSN - 0903-4641
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0463.2012.02922.x
Subject(s) - medicine , multiple myeloma , serology , autologous stem cell transplantation , transplantation , pneumococcal vaccine , immunology , pneumococcal infections , streptococcus pneumoniae , virology , antibody , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , antibiotics
Patients with multiple myeloma are known to have an increased risk of infections with Streptococcus pneumoniae and vaccination is recommended. We retrospectively investigated the response of a 23‐valent polysaccharide‐based pneumococcal vaccine in 60 patients with multiple myeloma administered prior to autologous stem cell transplantation ( ASCT ). Specific antibody titers were measured before and after vaccination. Disease stage was evaluated and associated to the response. We found that 33% of the patients responded to the vaccine. There was a statistic significant association between response to the vaccine and disease stage (p = 0.01). We conclude that vaccination against S. pneumoniae prior to ASCT is reasonable at least in patients responding well to induction therapy, but still it is important to be aware that the response is frequently poor and the duration of it is unknown.