Does booster influenza vaccination improve vaccination efficacy in patients with quiescent systemic lupus erythematosus?

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease, patients are often treated with immunosuppressive drugs to control disease activity. This causes patients to be susceptible for infections, like influenza. Former research showed influenza vaccination to be safe in SLE, however fewer patients reached protective titres as compared to healthy controls. It is desirable to increase this seroprotection rate. A second, booster vaccination, administered 4 weeks after the first vaccination is a possible approach to achief a higher seroprotection rate.




In this study, it will be assessed whether a second, booster, influenza vaccination leads to a higher seroprotection rate in SLE patients, as compared to a single vaccination.

SLE patients show a decreased humoral immune response to influenza vaccination, as compared to healthy controls. Furthermore the use of immunosuppressives is of influence on vaccination immunogenicity, it has been demonstrated that the use of drugs like corticosteroids, azathioprine, and cyclosporin hampers the humoral immune response, reflected by a decreased antibody response after vaccination.




In liver transplant recipients a decreased humoral immune response to influenza vaccination was found as well. A second, booster, influenza vaccination improved the humoral immune response.




In this study we will investigate whether a second, booster, influenza vaccination improves the immune response in SLE patients with quiescent disease. Patients with different immunosuppressive regimes will be vaccinated and disease activity and antibody response will be monitored thereafter.

1. inclusion, t = 0;

2. t = 4 weeks;

3. t = 8 weeks (only for SLE patients).

Influenza vaccination, followed by a second influenza vaccination in SLE patients after 4 weeks.