title: Influenza vaccination in patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis: efficacy and safety.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory, granulomatous disorder of unknown etiology. The role of cellular and humoral immune systems in this disease is unclear, whereas dysregulation of the immune system is suggested. Patients with sarcoidosis show diverse responses while exposed to various antigens. Although influenza vaccination is recommended in pulmonary sarcoidosis, its efficacy and safety has not been investigated.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate safety and immunogenicity of influenza vaccine in patients with sarcoidosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Influenza vaccination was performed in 23 eligible patients with sarcoidosis (SP) and 26 healthy controls (HC). Antibody titers against H1N1, H3N2, and B influenza virus antigens were evaluated just before and 1 month after vaccination. Patients were followed for 6 months to assess vaccine safety.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serological response and magnitude of changes in antibody titers against influenza vaccine antigens were comparable between SPs and HCs. Women showed a better serological response against B antigen (P = 0·034) than men. Twenty-four-hour urine calcium was associated with antibody response against H1N1 [correlation coefficient (CC) = 0·477, P = 0·003] and H3N2 (CC = 0·352, P = 0·028) antigens. Serum angiotensin-converting enzyme correlated negatively with antibody response against B antigen (CC = -0·331, P = 0·040). Higher residual volume was associated with fewer rises in antibody titer against H3N2 antigen (CC = -0·377, P = 0·035). No major adverse events or disease flare-up was observed during follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study, influenza vaccination did not cause any major adverse event in SPs, and their serological response was equal to HCs. Studies with larger sample size and a broader selection of subjects could help validate the results of this study.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research & Development Center, Shahid Modarres Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. sasan.tavana@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Sasan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tavana
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Argani
authors.forename: Sharareh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gholamin
authors.forename: Seyed-Mostafa
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Razavi
authors.forename: Marzieh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Keshtkar-Jahromi
authors.forename: Amir S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Talebian
authors.forename: Keivan G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Moghaddam
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Sepehri
authors.forename: Talat M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Azad
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Keshtkar-Jahromi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / Q000276:immunology; D053122:Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype / Q000276:immunology; D009981:Influenza B virus / Q000276:immunology; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017565:Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary / Q000276:immunology*; D014611:Vaccination / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007252:Influenza Vaccines