Evaluation of the immune response to pneumococcal capsular polysaccharides.
Antibody deficiency is the most common immunodeficiency. In 5% to 10% of the patients with recurrent infections that are evaluated for immunodeficiency, a specific deficiency in the immune response to capsular polysaccharides can be found. Patients with recurrent infections should therefore be tested for their capacity to produce antibodies against anti-capsular polysaccharides. As a clinical test, specific antibody levels are measured before and 14 days after immunization with the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine. In this article we describe the indications, the method used to measure antibodies to capsular pneumococcal polysaccharide and the way the results have to be interpreted.
Jeurissen
A
A
Afdeling Experimentele Laboratoriumgeneeskunde, Departement Moleculaire Celbiologie, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
Boudewijns
M
M
Proesmans
M
M
Ceuppens
J L
JL
De Boeck
K
K
Bossuyt
X
X
D000328:Adult; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D001530:Belgium; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity / Q000502:physiology*; D007153:Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D018579:Patient Selection; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000276:immunology*; D014611:Vaccination / Q000379:methods
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines