Immunization of immunosuppressed patients with pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine.

The antibody response after immunization with capsular polysaccharides of Streptococcus pneumoniae of patients with Hodgkin's disease or with carcinoma of the head and neck was studied. Patients with Hodgkin's disease who were immunized prior to the institution of immunosuppressive therapy were capable of responding to each of the pneumococcal polysaccharides evaluated. The level of antibody achieved by the patients is lower than that of normal control subjects. Nevertheless, absolute values were in the range that would be expected to result in protection. The duration of antibody response was not evaluated. Patients with carcinoma of the head and neck did not demonstrate a significant increase in antibody levels after vaccination, which was done at the time of radiation therapy. Two years after immunization antibody levels were lower with recovery at three years. However, these changes were not statistically significant. Decreased levels of antibody to pneumococcal polysaccharide types not present in the vaccine were observed. Studies of patients with carcinoma of the heat and neck demonstrated that radiation therapy has a profound immunosuppressive effect on antibody levels. More selective immunosuppressive therapy and/or an increase in the immunogenicity of the polysaccharides in the vaccine are required for protection of patients with malignancy.