Polyvalent pneumococcal immunization of patients with plasma cell dyscrasias

Thirteen patients with plasma cell dyscrasias and 27 healthy adults were immunized with polyvalent pneumococcal vaccine. Antibody responses were determined by radioimmunoassay. Patients with plasma cell disorders had significantly lower preimmunization and postimmunization antibody titers compared with those of the controls (P-0.01 abd 0.008, respectively). Even though the overall response in myeloma patients was poor, occasional rises in antibody titers occurred. Immunizing myeloma patients with the pneumococcal vaccine is recommended.