Pneumococcal vaccine in elderly patients with COPD.

Antibody levels to 12 serotypes of the 14 valent pneumococcal vaccine were measured in 12 patients (mean age of 70) with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), approximately one year postvaccination and in 17 additional patients with COPD (mean age 70) who were not vaccinated. In the vaccinated group, the geometric mean antibody concentration (GMAC) 13 months postvaccination was above the presumed postvaccination minimally protective level (250 to 300 ng of antibody nitrogen per milliliter) for all serotypes except 6A and 19F. Antibody levels exceeded 700 ng for nine of 12 types. The GMAC for all 12 types was 927. In the nonvaccinated group, GMAC were slightly higher than seen with healthy younger persons (395 vs 217). It is concluded that elderly persons with COPD have adequate antibody titers for at least one year after vaccination.