Vaccination of hematopoietic cell transplant recipients

Vaccination against pandemic H1N1 (2009) in patients after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a retrospective analysis

“…Prior rituximab therapy completely abrogated subsequent vaccination response in our cohort, which is in line with other results reported elsewhere [13,22,28,29]. Moreover, a patient receiving rituximab as the sole immunosuppressive treatment 8 months before being vaccinated against pandemic H1N1 (2009) virus developed life-threatening pandemic H1N1 (2009) infection despite vaccination, indicating a long-lasting effect of rituximab.…”

“…Issa et al [13] described an increasing vaccination response rate in correlation with the length of the time span after transplantation, reflecting improved immunoreconstitution; however, the latter is also impaired by cGvHD [28].…”

Etiology, clinical features and outcomes of pre-engraftment and post-engraftment bloodstream infection in hematopoietic SCT recipients

“…34 Regarding vaccination, three doses of a conjugate 7-valent vaccine (PCV7), or a more recently licensed 13-valent conjugated vaccine (PCV13), is recommended in all patients receiving an HSCT. 33,35,36 A fourth dose with the polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) is likely to be beneficial, to broaden the immune response. After that, a fourth dose of the PCV might increase the response rate in patients with chronic GVHD, who are less likely to respond to PPSV23.…”

Pretransplant vaccinations in allogeneic stem cell transplantation donors and recipients: an often-missed opportunity for immunoprotection?

“…[2][3][4] Most of the circulating T cells in the first year after transplantation are T cells derived from the graft that are capable of reacting to Ags exposed to the donor before transplantation. 5 Therefore, prior pathogen exposure to HSCT is beneficial in inducing T-cell and Ab response to vaccinations administered post HSCT.…”