(Press-News.org) New research shows that African Americans with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) had a higher antibody response to influenza vaccination than European American patients. Treatment with prednisone, a history of hemolytic anemia, and increased disease flares were also linked to low antibody response in SLE patients who received the flu vaccine according to the study now available in Arthritis & Rheumatism, a peer-reviewed journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR).
The ACR estimates that up to 322,000 adult Americans are burdened with SLE, a chronic autoimmune disease in which the immune system fails to recognize the difference between healthy cells and foreign substances (bacteria and viruses), producing autoantibodies that attack a person's own tissues and organs. Medical evidence shows that infectious diseases are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality for lupus patients, responsible for up to 23% of all hospitalization and 20% to 50% of all deaths. Current clinical practice advises vaccination against common infectious diseases, such as influenza, for patients with lupus to reduce their risk of infection.
"SLE patients are more susceptible to infection which is likely the result of immunosuppressive therapy and inherent deficiencies of the immune system," said lead researcher Dr. Judith James, Chair of the Arthritis and Clinical Immunology Program at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation and Professor of Medicine at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. "Our study explored multiple factors which influence response to influenza vaccination in SLE patients with active and inactive disease activity."
For the current study, the research team collected blood specimens and disease activity details from 72 SLE patients prior to vaccination and at 2, 6, and 12 weeks following influenza vaccination. An equal number of healthy controls were also recruited and followed. Researchers assessed influenza-specific antibody responses for antibody concentration (Bmax), relative affinity (Ka), and hemagglutination inhibition (HAI). Based on the overall anti-influenza response, SLE participants were categorized as high or low responders.
After vaccination the control group showed greater increase in the total amount of native antibodies compared to all SLE patients. Both the high and low responding patients had a significantly smaller increase in apparent affinity after vaccination compared to the healthy controls. Researchers did not observe a significant difference in HAI between SLE patients and controls, and few study participants had substantial increases in HAI titers after vaccination.
Researchers reported that African American patients were 3 times more likely to be high responders to the flu vaccine than European Americans. Patients taking prednisone (10 mg/day or more) were more likely to have a low response to influenza vaccination (67%) than a high response (47%). SLE patients who had a weak response to the flu vaccine were more likely to have a history of hemolytic anemia and experience moderate to severe disease flares following vaccination, compared to patients who had a greater response.
Dr. James concluded, "Studies investigating biomarkers that could predict which lupus patients are likely to experience a flare following vaccination are already underway. This information along with serologic tests of patients expected to mount a weak response would help clinicians identify those SLE patients who may need an alternate vaccination schedule or would need to be closely monitored after receiving the influenza vaccine."
INFORMATION:
The Lupus Foundation of America has designated May as Lupus Awareness Month.
This study is published in Arthritis & Rheumatism. Media wishing to receive a PDF of the article may contact healthnews@wiley.com.
Full citation:
"Influenza Vaccination Responses in Human Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Impact of Clinical and Demographic Features." Sherry R. Crowe, Joan T. Merrill, Evan S. Vista, Amy B. Dedeke, David M. Thompson, Scott Stewart, Joel M. Guthridge, Timothy B. Niewold, Beverly S. Franek, Gillian M. Air, Linda F. Thompson, Judith A. James. Arthritis & Rheumatism; Published Online: May 19, 2011 (DOI: 10.1002/art.30388). http://doi.wiley.com/10.1002/art.30388.
About the Journal
Arthritis & Rheumatism is an official journal of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and the Association of Rheumatology Health Professionals (ARHP), a division of the College, and covers all aspects of inflammatory disease. The American College of Rheumatology (www.rheumatology.org) is the professional organization who share a dedication to healing, preventing disability, and curing the more than 100 types of arthritis and related disabling and sometimes fatal disorders of the joints, muscles, and bones. Members include practicing physicians, research scientists, nurses, physical and occupational therapists, psychologists, and social workers. For details, please visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1529-0131.
About Wiley-Blackwell
Wiley-Blackwell is the international scientific, technical, medical, and scholarly publishing business of John Wiley & Sons, with strengths in every major academic and professional field and partnerships with many of the world's leading societies. Wiley-Blackwell publishes nearly 1,500 peer-reviewed journals and 1,500+ new books annually in print and online, as well as databases, major reference works and laboratory protocols. For more information, please visit www.wileyblackwell.com or our new online platform, Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com), one of the world's most extensive multidisciplinary collections of online resources, covering life, health, social and physical sciences, and humanities.
END
PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] — When you suffer a heart attack, a part of your heart dies. Nerve cells in the heart's wall and a special class of cells that spontaneously expand and contract – keeping the heart beating in perfect synchronicity – are lost forever. Surgeons can't repair the affected area. It's as if when confronted with a road riddled with potholes, you abandon what's there and build a new road instead.
Needless to say, this is a grossly inefficient way to treat arguably the single most important organ in the human body. The best approach would be ...
This unique opportunity is a rare event in the world of elite watch making. Brands like Cartier, Rolex, and Cuervo y Sobrinos usually never sell at such low prices.
The current discounts are a limited time offer to clear inventory. Cuervo y Sobrinos Benelux was an official Cuervo y Sobrinos distributor and is now selling its surplus inventory online. Discounts range from 40% up to 50% off the official retail price.
Watch lovers and collectors can now own one of these superior watches at very low prices. Cuervo y Sobrinos Benelux already has customers, watch collectors ...
PITTSBURGH, May 19 - Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine have developed a mouse model of major depressive disorder (MDD) that is based on a rare genetic mutation that appears to cause MDD in the majority of people who inherit it. The findings, which were published online today in the American Journal of Medical Genetics Part B: Neuropsychiatric Genetics EarlyView, could help to clarify the brain events that lead to MDD, and contribute to the development of new and better means of treatment and prevention. This report also illustrates an advance ...
NEW REPORT ON HEALTH REFORM IMPLEMENTATION RECOMMENDS WAYS TO ENSURE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE INSURANCE IS MAINTAINED THROUGH JOB AND INCOME CHANGES
Full-Year Coverage, Combined Small Business and Individual Health Insurance Exchanges Could Reduce Administrative Burdens and Prevent Coverage Gaps
New York, NY, May 19, 2011—Modifications to current policies could help ensure that health insurance coverage and subsidies provided under the Affordable Care Act remain stable even through major life changes, according to a new Commonwealth Fund report released today. At least ...
Women have lower career expectations than men, anticipating smaller paycheques and longer waits for promotions, according to a new study involving a University of Guelph researcher.
When comparing career expectations of Canadian female and male university students, Prof. Sean Lyons discovered that women predict their starting salaries to be 14 per cent less than what the men forecast. This gap in wage expectations widens over their careers with women anticipating their earnings to be 18 per cent less than men after five years on the job.
As for their first promotion, ...
Whataburger today announced the results of an online survey conducted in honor of National Hamburger Month. The Southern burger icon, with more than 700 locations in 10 states, asked its Facebook fans to name their favorite way to order a Whataburger.
The winning combination? According to the nearly 20,000 fans of Whataburger's Facebook page who participated in the survey, a Whataburger burger is best when ordered with mustard, cheese, bacon and jalapenos, served on the chain's unique Texas Toast.
When asked to name their favorite side item to go with their burger, ...
Napa Technology, developer of the WineStation Intelligent Wine Preservation and Dispensing System, commissioned a survey of more than150 top sommeliers, wine directors, hotel and restaurant operators to find that wine by the glass consumption is on the rise and consumers are willing to pay more for the experience of wines by the glass that would otherwise be cost prohibitive by the bottle.
1. Do you believe that consumers are more wine savvy today than they were four years ago?
- Yes 88.2%
2. Are wine consumers demanding more wines by the glass choices now than in ...
Viewers around the world woke to a surprise of a leaked call that occurred this past weekend that has already taken on viral traits. David Morgan of www.Silver-Investor.com was introduced to Internet marketer and creator of the highly controversial Silver Keisers, Troy James by Max Keiser on May 3rd, 2011. The discussion between the two led to the opinion that they thought the world needed to know the views from all of the largest names that have been talking about silver as being the biggest investment of this decade and where they stand now. As most know, silver recently ...
Novosoft, an international software development and IT consultancy company, announced the start of sales of the Handy Backup software in the Best Buy online store. The Handy Backup editions for home and enterprise can now be downloaded and installed with the use of a Best Buy PC App. The offer is exclusively accessible in the United States.
"It is availability that eventually wins the competition. Your product might be super functional, amazingly designed, and smartly supported, but without being truly accessible it will hardly get good chances. That is why here ...
Korean-American Actress, Writer, and Director, Alexandra Chun, got a taste in annihilating the human race as an alien mad scientist, Dr. Lu, in NBC's Sci-Fi Drama, "The Event".
"I'm grateful that the writers and producers ("EVENT") developed my character from a non-descript acupuncturist to a mad scientist" says Chun. "I've played many women with secrets or unsavory pasts, but to have it develop in this way was a thrilling ride."
This Korean-born starlet began her career in entertainment as a regular on the US soap, Another ...
