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Updated: Aug 18, 2026

Capsular Serotyping of Streptococcus pneumoniae Using the Quellung Reaction
Published on: February 24, 2014
[Persistence of antibodies three years after vaccination with the 23-valent pneumococcal vaccine]
M Campins Martí1, J Casal Lombos, D Tarragó Asensio
1Servicios de Medicina Preventiva y Epidemiología. Hospital Vall d'Hebron. Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona. Barcelona. España. magca@jet.es
Insights
Antibody levels in children with nephrotic syndrome decrease significantly three years after pneumococcal vaccination. These findings suggest a need for revaccination to maintain protection against pneumococcal disease.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Pediatrics
- Vaccinology
Context:
- Nephrotic syndrome in children impacts immune function.
- Pneumococcal vaccination is crucial for preventing serious infections.
- Understanding vaccine response in immunocompromised populations is vital.
Purpose:
- To assess antibody persistence after the 23-valent pneumococcal vaccine in children with nephrotic syndrome.
- To evaluate antibody levels at 3 years post-vaccination.
- To determine the immunogenicity and duration of protection.
Summary:
- Antibody levels increased significantly one month after vaccination for most pneumococcal serotypes, with notable variation.
- Three years post-vaccination, antibody levels substantially decreased in children with nephrotic syndrome.
- The 23-valent pneumococcal vaccine is immunogenic but provides short-term antibody persistence in this cohort.
Impact:
- Results indicate that children with nephrotic syndrome may require revaccination approximately three years after primary immunization.
- This study informs vaccination strategies for pediatric nephrotic syndrome patients.
- Highlights the need for tailored immunization schedules in specific pediatric populations.
Objective:
To study the persistence of antibodies after primary immunization with the 23-valent pneumococcal vaccine in children with nephrotic syndrome.
Methods:
Sera from 14 of 26 children with nephrotic syndrome were obtained 3 years after vaccination. We used an ELISA method to measure IgG antibody levels to pneumococcal serotypes 14, 23F, 3 and 6B. Antibody levels before vaccination, 1 month and 3 years after vaccination were compared.
Results:
Significant increases in specific antibody concentrations were observed 30 days after vaccination for all serotypes except serotype 3. Differences in response according to serotype were found. The highest serological response was observed for serotype 14 (78.5 % of the patients showed a good-to-moderate response). Three years after vaccination antibody levels were significantly decreased (27.3 % of children for serotype 14, 46.2 % for serotype 23F and 50 % for serotype 6B).
Conclusions:
The 23-valent pneumococcal vaccine is immunogenic in children aged more than 2 years with nephrotic syndrome. Response varied according to serotype. Persistence of vaccine-induced antibodies is short-term, with low antibody levels 3 years after immunization. The results of this study suggest that these patients require revaccination 3 years after the first dose.
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