IgA response to pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine in individuals splenectomized because of trauma

The IgA pneumococcal antibody responses to each of the pneumococcal serotypes in a 14-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine, and the total serum IgA concentration, have been examined in 21 individuals splenectomized because of trauma and in 10 control individuals. Both groups of individuals showed significant IgA antibody responses to most of the serotypes, but the splenectomized individuals tended to have somewhat lower IgA pneumococcal antibody levels than did the control individuals. This difference may possibly be related to age differences between the groups. Our results therefore seem compatible with the hypothesis that the serum IgA antipneumococcal antibody response is not affected by splenectomy.