title: Vaccinations for rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) suffer an increased burden of infectious disease-related morbidity and mortality and have twice the risk of acquiring a severe infection compared to the general population. This increased risk is not only a result of the autoimmune disease but is also attributed to the immunosuppressive therapies that are commonly used in this patient population. Given the increase in infection-related risks in RA, there is great interest in mitigating such risk. A number of vaccines are available to the rheumatologist, with a handful that are of importance for RA patients in the United States. The goal of this paper is to highlight the most recent literature on the key vaccines and the specific considerations for the rheumatologist and their RA patients, with a particular focus on influenza, pneumococcal, and herpes zoster vaccines. It is important for rheumatologist to understand and be aware of which vaccines are live and what potential contraindications exist for giving vaccines to RA patients.
authors.affiliation: Division of Arthritis & Rheumatic Diseases, Oregon Health and Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd, Portland, OR, 97239, USA.
authors.forename: Lisa M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Perry
authors.forename: Kevin L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Winthrop
authors.forename: Jeffrey R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Curtis
mesh_terms: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D000075202:Contraindications; D053061:Herpes Zoster Vaccine; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D053061:Herpes Zoster Vaccine; D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines