title: Influenza vaccination in patients on long-term anticoagulant therapy.
abstract: The study evaluates the risk/benefit of influenza vaccination in patients on stable long-term oral anticoagulant therapy (OAT). One hundred and four consecutive patients with indication for influenza vaccination were randomized to receive one dose of 2004/2005 influenza vaccine followed by placebo after 6 weeks, or vice versa, in a cross-over blinded trial. All patients were tested for anticoagulation levels and for hemagglutination inhibiting antibody titres against the influenza vaccine antigens. The highly protective antibody titres induced by influenza vaccination and the absence of statistically relevant interactions between vaccination and OAT suggest that influenza vaccination can be used safely and successfully in elderly patients on OAT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hygiene, University of Perugia, Via del Giochetto, 06100 Perugia, Italy. anna@unipg.it
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Iorio
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Camilloni
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Basileo
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Guercini
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Conti
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ferrante
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Paccamiccio
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iaboni
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vecchioli
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iorio
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004347:Drug Interactions; D016903:Drug Monitoring / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D007252:Influenza Vaccines