Inverse correlation between serum of anti-pneumococcal andferritin levels after pneumococcal vaccination in splenectomised betathalassemia major

Background and Aim : Splenectomy is necessary in beta thalassemia major patients when thespleen becomes hyperactive, leading to extreme destruction of erythrocytes. This study assessedthe ferritin effect on serum pneumococcal antibody response following pneumococcal vaccination,in patients with beta thalassemia major after splenectomy.Methods : In this case series study, convenience sampling was used to recruit ۳۴۷ splenectomisedbeta thalassemia patients under the auspices of Jahrom University of Medical Sciences.Demographic data such as age, sex, and time after splenectomy were recorded by a questionnaire.All participants have been splenectomised and received a dose of Pneumovax® ۲۳ vaccine ۱۴ daysbefore surgery. The IgG antibody responses to pneumococcal vaccine and levels of serum specificferritin were determined by commercial enzyme immunoassay kits. For the analysis, SPSSsoftware version ۱۶ was used. A p-value less than ۰.۰۵ was considered statistically significant.Results : More participants (۶۳.۴%) were hypo-responders to pneumococcal vaccine. Also, serumanti-pneumococcal IgG antibody was related to post splenectomy duration and serum ferritin (p<۰.۰۰۱), but not to gender (p> ۰.۰۵). An important result was a relation of serum anti-pneumococcalIgG antibody to serum ferritin according to post splenectomy duration groups. Therefore, in threegroups of post splenectomy duration, the serum ferritin was higher in hypo-responder than in goodresponder subjects.Conclusion : Our results indicate that serum anti-pneumococcal IgG antibody decreased withincrement of serum ferritin and post splenectomy duration. Thus, there is a need to re-address theapproach towards revaccination in this immune-compromised group of patients by administeringa booster pneumococcal vaccination in an attempt to recover immunity and reduce morbidity.

کلیدواژه ها:

pneumococcal vaccines ، ferritins ، splenectomy ، beta thalassemia ، Iran