title: Hepatitis A vaccine for immunosuppressed patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a prospective, open-label, multi-centre study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatitis A vaccine is the most frequently used travel vaccine, yet data are scarce about its ability to induce protection in patients with concurrent immunosuppressive treatment. We assessed the immunogenicity of this vaccine in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients treated with tumour necrosis factor-inhibitors (TNFi) and/or methotrexate (MTX).
  
  
  METHODS
  Hepatitis A vaccine was administered to non-immune RA patients at 0 and 6 months. Hepatitis A virus (HAV) antibodies were assessed at 0, 1, 6, 7, 12, and 24 months with a quantitative Chemiluminescent Microparticle Immuno Assay (CMIA) for HAV-IgG. Samples from month 1, 6, and 7 were, in addition, analysed with a microparticle EIA (MEIA) for anti-HAV IgM + IgG.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The final study population consisted of 53 patients treated with TNFi (n = 15), TNFi + MTX (n = 21) or MTX (n = 17). One and six months after the first dose, 10% and 33% of the patients had attained seroprotection. One and six months after the second dose 83% and 72% were seroprotected. At month 24, 86% of the vaccinees showed protective levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Two doses of hepatitis A vaccine at a 6-month interval provided protection for most immunosuppressed RA patients. A single dose does not seem to afford sufficient protection to this group of patients.
authors: Karolinska Institutet, Dept. of Medicine/Solna, Unit for Infectious Diseases, SE 17176 Stockholm, Sweden; Dept. of Communicable Diseases Control and Prevention, SE 118 91 Stockholm, Sweden. Electronic address: helena.hervius-askling@sll.se.
authors: Helena H
authors: HH
authors: Askling
authors: Karolinska Institutet, Dept. of Medicine/Solna, Unit for Infectious Diseases, SE 17176 Stockholm, Sweden; Centre for Clinical Research, Sörmland, Uppsala University, SE 631 88 Eskilstuna, Sweden. Electronic address: lars.rombo@telia.com.
authors: Lars
authors: L
authors: Rombo
authors: Unit for Clinical Therapy Research, Inflammatory Diseases (ClinTRID), Karolinska Institutet, SE-17176 Stockholm Sweden. Electronic address: ronald.van.vollenhoven@ki.se.
authors: Ronald
authors: R
authors: van Vollenhoven
authors: Dept. of Infectious Diseases, Karlstad County Hospital, SE 651 85 Karlstad, Sweden. Electronic address: ingemar.hallen@liv.se.
authors: Ingemar
authors: I
authors: Hallén
authors: Dept. of Rheumatology, Mälar Hospital, SE 631 88 Eskilstuna, Sweden. Electronic address: ake.thorner@dll.se.
authors: Åke
authors: Å
authors: Thörner
authors: Dept. of Clinical Microbiology, Karolinska University Hospital, SE 17176 Stockholm, Sweden. Electronic address: margareta.nordin@karolinska.se.
authors: Margareta
authors: M
authors: Nordin
authors: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, CH-4051 Basel, Switzerland. Electronic address: herzog.ch47@gmail.com.
authors: Christian
authors: C
authors: Herzog
authors: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Helsinki University Central Hospital, FI-00029 HUCH Helsinki, Finland; Department of Medicine, FI-00014 University of Helsinki, Finland. Electronic address: anu.kantele@hus.fi.
authors: Anu
authors: A
authors: Kantele
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000079424:Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitors
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies; D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines; D000079424:Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitors; D008727:Methotrexate
keywords: Hepatitis A; Immunosuppression; Rheumatoid arthritis; TNF-inhibitors; Vaccination