Association of host factors with antibody response to seasonal influenza vaccination in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) patients

BACKGROUND Influenza vaccination efficacy is reduced after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and patient factors determining vaccination outcomes are still poorly understood.

METHODS We investigated the antibody response to seasonal influenza vaccination in 135 HSCT patients and 69 healthy volunteers (HVs) in a prospective observational multicenter cohort study.

We identified patient factors associated with hemagglutination inhibition titers against A/California/2009/H1N1, A/Texas/2012/H3N2, and B/Massachusetts/2012 by multivariable regression on the observed titer levels and on seroconversion/seroprotection categories for comparison.

RESULTS Both regression approaches yield consistent results but regression on titers estimated associations with higher precision.

HSCT patients required two vaccine doses to achieve average responses comparable to a single dose in HVs.

Pre-vaccination titers were positively associated with time after transplantation, confirming that HSCT patients can elicit potent antibody responses.

However, an unrelated donor, absolute lymphocyte counts below the normal range and treatment with calcineurin inhibitors lower the odds of responding.

CONCLUSIONS HSCT patients show a highly heterogeneous vaccine response, but overall, patients benefited from the booster shot and can acquire seroprotective antibodies over the years after transplantation.

Several common patient factors lower the odds of responding, urging to identify additional preventive strategies in the poorly responding groups.