RESPONSE OF RECENT HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS SEROCONVERTERS TO THEPNEUMOCOCCAL POLYSACCHARIDE VACCINE AND HAEMOPHILUS-INFLUENZAE TYPE-BCONJUGATE VACCINE

Antibody responses in recent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seroco nverters to 2 vaccines were studied. Twenty patients infected with HIV for <18 months and 15 HIV-seronegative controls were vaccinated with the 23-valent pure polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccine and the Haemoph ilus influenzae type b (Hib) capsular polysaccharide diphtheria CRM,,, protein toroid conjugate vaccine in separate arms, Despite increased levels of total serum IgG, recent seroconverters and controls showed s imilar specific IgG responses for 6 of 7 antigens, Baseline levels wer e equivalent in both groups, as were peak levels of IgG at 1 month to conjugated polysaccharide (Hib), delayed-type hypersensitivity, and pn eumococcal capsular serotypes 4, 6B, 12F, and 14, At 6 months, IgG lev els were similar for 4 of 7 antigens. Antibody responses to pure pneum ococcal capsular polysaccharides and to a protein recall antigen were most often similar among recent seroconverters and seronegative contro ls, Both total levels and fold-rises of IgC to the Hib conjugate were similar in the 2 groups, Immunization of HIV-infected patients soon af ter seroconversion rather than later appears to improve antibody respo nses.