Vaccination of autologous stem cell transplant recipients with live varicella vaccine: a pilot study

• DOI: 10.1007/s00520-003-0527-8
• Publication Date: 2003-11-26T17:21:18Z
• Authors: P. Ljungman; F. Z. Wang; C. Nilsson; V. Solheim; A. Linde
• Keywords: Adult; Male; Herpesvirus 3, Human; Time Factors; T-Lymphocytes; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; Pilot Projects; Middle Aged; Antibodies, Viral; Lymphocyte Activation; Vaccines, Attenuated; Herpes Zoster; Transplantation, Autologous; 3. Good health; Chickenpox Vaccine; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Humans; Female

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.