Influenza Virus Vaccination of Patients with SLE: Effects on Generation of Autoantibodies

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Clinical Rheumatology

ISSN: 0770-3198 (printed version)

ISSN: 1434-9949 (electronic version)

Table of Contents

Abstract Volume 21 Issue 5 (2002) pp 369-372

Influenza Virus Vaccination of Patients with SLE: Effects on Generation of

Autoantibodies

M. Abu-Shakra, J. Press, S. Sukenik, D. Buskila

Soroka Medical Center and Ben-Gurion University, Beer-Sheva, Israel

Received: 17 September 2001 / Accepted: 11 February 2002

Abstract: The sera of 24 women with SLE who received influenza vaccine were

tested by ELISA for anti-DNA, anticardiolipin, anti-Sm, anti-Sm/RNP, anti-Ro

and anti-La. Blood samples were withdrawn at the time of vaccination and 6

and 12 weeks after vaccination. The mean age at enrolment into the study was

46.1 years. The mean disease duration was 9.1 years. SLEDAI scores were 6.6

at vaccination, 4.9 at 6 weeks and 5.1 at week 12. The vaccine was not

associated with the generation of anti-DNA. At time of vaccination a single

patient had anti-Sm, four patients had anti-Sm/RNP antibodies, none of the

patients had anti-La antibody and six had anti-Ro antibodies. Six weeks

after vaccination four, eight, nine and three patients had autoantibodies

reacting with Sm, Sm/RNP, Ro and La, respectively. Twelve weeks after

vaccination none of the patients had anti-Sm, three had anti-Sm/RNP, five

had anti-Ro and two had anti-La antibodies. Following vaccination six and

three patients developed IgG and IgM anticardiolipin antibodies,

respectively. In summary, although the influenza virus vaccine is clinically

safe for patients with SLE it may trigger the generation of autoantibodies.

This effect is usually short term and has no clinical significance.