Date: Wed, 9 Aug 2000 20:35:35 -0700

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Influenza Vaccination Safe For Women With Lupus

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WESTPORT, Jul 31 (Reuters Health) - Contrary to the belief that immunization can exacerbate autoimmune diseases, use of the influenza vaccination appears to be safe in women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Dr. Mahmoud Abu-Shakra, of the Soroka Medical Center, Beer-Sheva, Israel, and colleagues examined the safety of influenza vaccination in 48 women with SLE, of whom 24 received the vaccine and 24 did not.

"Our data suggest that influenza virus vaccine does not affect the clinical manifestations of SLE including renal features, disease activity, laboratory features, or the requirement for steroids or cytotoxic drugs," the investigators write in the July issue of The Journal of Rheumatology. At both 6 weeks and 12 weeks, disease activity scores were similar between patients who received the vaccine and those who did not.

Moreover, during the 12 weeks of follow-up, disease activity and renal function actually improved in both patients who received the vaccine and those who did not.

"We recommend that all patients with SLE be encouraged to receive influenza vaccine according to the recommendation given by the Immunization Practices Advisory Committee," Dr. Abu-Shakra and colleagues conclude. They note that similar studies must be conducted to determine the safety of vaccines against other diseases, such as hepatitis B, before their routine use can be recommended in patients with SLE.

J Rheumatol 2000;27:1681-1685. 

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