Re: PNEUMOCOCCAL VACCINATIONS PROVE ACCEPTABLE FOR PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

[Guest guest]

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From: Sam Rocci

>So, after reading this do we get the shot or not?

It looks to me like if you're taking a TNF blocker and not taking methotrexate, you get the best immune response. I'm not taking either so I should get a good immune response. I know prednisone can keep you from getting a good response with any vaccination.

Nina

Study results showed that immune response to the vaccine was highest in patients on TNF-blockers without methotrexate, intermediate in patients on TNF-blockers combined with methotrexate and lowest in patients on methotrexate alone.

"The essence of the current study is that rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with TNF-blocker can be safely vaccinated against pneumococcal infections under the same premises as patients with other diseases, while methotrexate-treated rheumatoid arthritis patients should be vaccinated preferably before initiation of this treatment," said Pierre Geborek, MD, PhD, Department of Rheumatology, Lund University Hospital, Lund, Sweden, and an investigator in the study.