RESEARCH - Lupus drugs dull flu shots

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Lupus Drugs Dull Flu Shots

August 4, 2009 — Immunity-suppressing lupus drugs dampen the effects

of flu vaccines, a Dutch study warns.

Lupus patients who are taking these drugs at the same time they get

their flu shots may be vulnerable to flu complications.

Flu is often more severe and deadly for lupus patients than for people

without the autoimmune disease. Fortunately, flu vaccine is safe for

people with lupus, known medically as systemic lupus erythematosus or

SLE.

And despite their lower level of protection, there's strong evidence

that flu vaccines do protect lupus patients from the flu.

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Read the rest of the article here:

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/707017

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