Compliance with immunizations in splenectomized individuals with hereditary spherocytosis

Overwhelming infection by encapsulated bacteria is a significant risk of splenectomy. Strict adherence to immunizations against encapsulated organisms is recommended. We performed a cross-sectional study to determine immunization status after splenectomy in the hereditary spherocytosis (HS) population. As HS is most often autosomal dominant, we used a strategy of ascertaining older affected individuals by expanding pedigrees from patients in our pediatric hematology center. Only 26% of asplenic patients reported receiving all recommended post-splenectomy vaccines. This study demonstrates that pediatric hematology clinics have a unique opportunity to provide or recommend catch-up and booster vaccinations to splenectomized adult relatives of their patients.