There is growing evidence that S. pneumoniae vaccines that are currently used to prevent specific infections also have heterologous effects on other infections or pathologies. Here we report a patient who improved his chronic dermatitis dramatically after pneumococcal immunization.
A 45-year-old adult patient was evaluated for a possible infectious or immune cause of a treatment resistant, disabling dermatitis of 4 years duration. No identifiably infectious cause was ever found. Immunity, including antibodies against S. pneumoniae, were normal. He was given a 13-valent conjugate vaccine followed by the 23-valent polysaccharide six weeks later.
The patient had a complete clearing of lesion without additional medication after he was given the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine. Improvement lasted 2 years. No medications were needed to maintain his healthy skin. After 2 years, dermatitis recurred. It cleared after a repeat 13-valente conjugate vaccine administration.
S. pneumoniae polysaccharide vaccine can improve conditions unrelated to pneumococcal infections. This effect is not dependent on having a detectable specific antibody deficiency involving S. pneumoniae antibodies.