title: Serotype-specific pneumococcal antibody concentrations in children treated for acute leukaemia.
abstract: Children treated for acute leukaemia are at increased risk of infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae. The basis for this may include low levels of pneumococcal antibody but this has not been well studied. The authors measured serotype-specific pneumococcal IgG antibody concentrations in children treated for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) ≥6 months after completion of standard-dose chemotherapy. Pneumococcal serotype-specific IgG antibody concentrations were low. None of the subjects had protective concentrations against all the heptavalent-pneumococcal conjugate vaccine serotypes. There was no significant difference in antibody concentrations between subjects with ALL and AML (p≥0.05). Children treated for ALL and AML generally have non-protective antibody concentrations against S pneumoniae. There is significant morbidity associated with pneumococcal disease in this patient group and strategies for vaccination are required.
authors: Department of Paediatrics, Mayday University Hospital, Croydon CR7 7YE, UK. soonier@doctors.org.uk
authors: Soonie R
authors: SR
authors: Patel
authors: Jessica
authors: J
authors: Bate
authors: Ray
authors: R
authors: Borrow
authors: Paul T
authors: PT
authors: Heath
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007223:Infant; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D012703:Serotyping; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007074:Immunoglobulin G