USE AND EFFICACY OF PNEUMOCOCCAL VACCINE IN PATIENTS WITH HODGKIN DISEASE

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 54  (5) , 1171-1175
Abstract
Fulminant bacterial sepsis was described in patients with Hodgkin disease who underwent splenectomy for staging purposes. The organisms commonly associated with sepsis in this setting include Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae. Polyvalent pneumococcal vaccine (Merck) was recently licensed and suggested for use in patients with Hodgkin disease who were at risk for postsplenectomy sepsis. Fourteen valent pneumococcal vaccine was administered to 24 patients with Hodgkin disease and 24 normal controls, and antibody response to 13 antigens was measured at time of immunization and at 3 wk and 3 mo. following immunization. Patients who were previously treated for Hodgkin disease, with chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy had severe impairment of antibody response. Untreated patients responded in a manner similar to normal controls.