Abstract
In a secondary immunodeficient state following hematopoietic cell transplantation, a variety of infectious episodes may take place. Infections may be difficult to treat in some instances. Furthermore, specific immunity against pathogens, either infection-induced or vaccine-induced, may eventually disappear after transplantation. Therefore, it is desirable to vaccinate post-transplant patients if it is suitable for them. Before vaccination for vaccine-preventable diseases, it is important to know when and how immune reconstitution may begin after transplantation. In clinical practice, specific antibody responses against vaccines may be evaluated before and after vaccination. However, “Correlates of Protection”, as indicators of immunological protection against pathogens, include humoral, cellular, and mucosal immunity. Thus, evaluating antibody alone may be limited to predict the clinical outcome. In this article, I have reviewed the current status of post-transplant immune recovery and vaccination.
