Immunization with influenza vaccine in patients with haematological malignant disease

Fifty-eight patients with a variety of haematological lymphoproliferative or myeloproliferative disorders were given bivalent subunit influenza virus vaccine, and their antibody responses after vaccination were compared with those of a normal control group. Although geometric mean titres of the patient group showed lower initial antibody levels, smaller increments, and lower final titres, after vaccination 83% of this group achieved satisfactory antibody levels to the A/Pt Chalmers strain, and 57% to the B/Hong Kong strain. The lowest antibody levels and smallest responses occurred in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease, and multiple myeloma. Four of seven patients who showed low antibody levels, and no response to the first injection, responded to a second dose.