Anti-TNF drugs may reduce antibody response to the influenza vaccination
Dutch researchers have suggested that anti-TNF drugs used to treat conditions like rheumatoid arthritis could reduce a patient's antibody response to the influenza vaccination.
The team from Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands published their findings in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.
Its trial involved 112 patients with long-standing autoimmune diseases that required immunosuppressive medication. Of these patients, 64 were using anti-TNF drugs like etanercept, adalimumab or infliximab and 48 were not using anti-TNF drugs. A cohort of 18 healthy individuals was used as a control.
The team used haemagglutination inhibition assays at regular intervals to determine antibody responses after the influenza vaccination was given.
It was discovered that antibody titres against influenza were lower in the 64 patients treated with the anti-TNF drugs than those not using such treatments and the controls.
Despite this, Dr Luc Gelinck and the rest of the team concluded: "The antibody response to influenza vaccination in patients treated with anti-TNF is only modestly impaired.
"The proportion of patients that achieves a protective titre is not significantly diminished by the use of TNF blocking therapies."
A spokeswoman for the Arthritis Research Campaign commented that patients do need to be aware of the immunosuppressant effects of anti-TNF therapy and take the necessary steps to the risk of infections as much as possible. Pneumovax and yearly flu vaccines are recommended for people on these drugs.
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