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B-cell function in chronic heart failure: antibody response to pneumococcal vaccine
A Doing1, D Griffin, J A Jacobson
1Division of Cardiology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
Journal of Cardiac Failure
|January 10, 2002
Summary
Patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) show normal B-cell function and antibody response to pneumococcal vaccination, despite other immune system abnormalities. This suggests vaccinations are potentially useful for these patients.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cardiology
- Infectious Disease
Background:
- Patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) exhibit immune system abnormalities, including altered cytokine profiles and lymphocyte function.
- These patients have an increased susceptibility to nosocomial infections, particularly pulmonary infections.
- Concerns exist regarding the capacity of symptomatic CHF patients to mount effective B-cell responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess B-cell function in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF).
- To evaluate the antibody production in response to pneumococcal vaccination in CHF patients.
Main Methods:
- B-cell function was evaluated by measuring antibody production following pneumococcal vaccination.
- Antibody levels for various pneumococcal serotypes were quantified.
Main Results:
- Patients with CHF demonstrated a significant increase in antibody levels across all tested serotypes (P
- The mean number of serotypes with protective antibody levels increased from 7.9 to 10.5 out of 12 (P
- These antibody responses were comparable to normal vaccination responses.
- The mean number of serotypes with protective antibody levels increased from 7.9 to 10.5 out of 12 (P
Conclusions:
- Despite existing immune abnormalities, patients with CHF possess intact B-cell function.
- The underlying etiology of CHF does not appear to influence antibody response to vaccination.
- Normal vaccination responses in CHF patients confirm the potential utility of such immunizations.
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