title: Vaccination of autologous stem cell transplant recipients with live varicella vaccine: a pilot study.
abstract: A pilot study of vaccination with live, attenuated varicella vaccine for prevention of zoster was performed in autologous stem cell transplant (SCT) recipients. Nine patients were vaccinated between 3-4 months after transplantation. The antigen-specific immune response was studied by lymphocyte proliferation. No systemic side effects were seen. One of nine patients developed herpes zoster HZ during follow-up. There was a tendency for a strengthened specific immune response after SCT ( p=0.12). This pilot study shows that vaccination with live, attenuated varicella vaccine can be performed safely 3-4 months after autologous stem cell transplantation. Additional studies are needed to assess efficacy of this approach in the prevention of HZ.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D019433:Chickenpox Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D013997:Time Factors; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous / Q000276:immunology; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D019433:Chickenpox Vaccine; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated