Controlled prospective trial ofPseudomonas aeruginosa vaccine in children with acute leukemia

Abstract

Seventy-four children under the age of 15 years, with acute leukemia were enrolled in a study to ascertain the protective effect of Pseudomonas aeruginosa vaccine, derived from the lipopolysaccharide antigens of the 7 Fisher, Devlin, and Gnabasik immunotypes. Thirteen patients received immunization initially as a pilot trial. The remaining 61 were randomized between vaccine (31) and control (30). The primary immunization consisted of 4 weekly injections. Booster doses were administered at 3 month intervals. In 85% of the patients antibodies were produced in response to the vaccination, but their levels tended to decline rapidly. The incidence of P. aeruginosa infection in each group was: pilot trial, 3, vaccine 5, and control 3. These results indicate that immunological control of P. aeruginosa infection could not be achieved by vaccination with the present vaccine alone in children with acute leukemia.