Life after Transplantation
Immunizations
Stem cell transplantation may result in major changes for the immune system. For patients who received their own cells (autologous) for transplant, these changes are relatively minor. Autologous transplant patients will have a weakened immune system for a number of months, with immunity being restored much as it previously existed. Resistance to childhood diseases that had previously occurred will be re-established. Since most adults have allowed tetanus immunity to fade, we do recommend that one or two tetanus boosters be given a year or so after the transplant.
For patients receiving a donor cell (allogeneic) transplant, the immunity of the donor eventually (within one to two years) becomes the immunity of the recipient. Since most adults have had the common childhood diseases, the recipient's immunity against these diseases is carried on after the transplant in the form of the donor's immunity. As with autologous transplant patients, we do recommend re-immunizing with tetanus after all immunosuppressive medications have been stopped and at least one year from transplant has elapsed.
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