Cited by 289Rheumatoid Arthritis Research and TherapiesInfluenza Virus Research StudiesImmunotoxicology and immune responses

Effect of methotrexate, anti-tumor necrosis factor α, and rituximab on the immune response to influenza and pneumococcal vaccines in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Hua, Charlotte, Barnetche, Thomas, Combe, Bernard, Morel, Jacques·2014·Arthritis Care & Research

Abstract

Objective: To assess the current literature on the impact of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treatments on the humoral response to pneumococcal and influenza vaccines. Methods: We systematically searched the literature for studies evaluating the immune response to vaccines in RA patients receiving methotrexate (MTX) and/or biologic agents. The efficacy of vaccination, assessed by the response rate based on increased antibody titers before and 3–6 weeks after vaccination, was extracted by one investigator and verified by another. Results: In total, 12 studies were included. RA patients mainly received MTX, anti–tumor necrosis factor α (anti‐TNFα), or rituximab (RTX). Influenza vaccination response was reduced for RTX (43 patients; pooled odds ratio [OR] 0.44 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.17–1.12] for H1N1, OR 0.11 [95% CI 0.04–0.31] for H3N2, and OR 0.29 [95% CI 0.10–0.81] for B) but not for anti‐TNFα (308 patients; OR 0.93 [95% CI 0.36–2.37] for H1N1, OR 0.79 [95% CI 0.34–1.83] for H3N2, and OR 0.79 [95% CI 0.37–1.70] for B). For MTX, results differed depending on the method of analysis (222 patients; OR 0.35 [95% CI 0.18–0.66] for at least 2 strains, ORs were close to 1.0 in the single strain analysis). Pneumococcal vaccination response was reduced for 139 patients receiving MTX compared with controls (OR 0.33 [95% CI 0.20–0.54] for serotype 6B and OR 0.58 [95% CI 0.36–0.94] for 23F) but not for anti‐TNFα (258 patients; OR 0.96 [95% CI 0.57–1.59] for 6B and OR 1.20 [95% CI 0.57–2.54] for 23F). For RTX, the response was reduced (88 patients; OR 0.25 [95% CI 0.11–0.58] for 6B and OR 0.21 [95% CI 0.04–1.05] for 23F). Conclusion: MTX decreases humoral response to pneumococcal vaccination and may impair response to influenza vaccination. The immune response to both vaccines is reduced with RTX but not with anti‐TNFα therapy in RA patients.

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Crossref · 10.1002/acr.22246

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Authors
Hua, C., Barnetche, T., Combe, B., & Morel, J.
Affiliations
  • Hôpital Lapeyronie (FR)
  • Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Bordeaux (FR)
Venue
Arthritis Care & Research
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2014-06-26
Volume
66
Issue
7
Pages
1016-1026
ISSN
  • 0893-7524 (ISSN-L)
  • 2151-464X
  • 2151-4658
OpenAlex
W1513110336
Cited by
287
References
32
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 23 · 2023: 23 · 2022: 50 · 2021: 61 · 2020: 28 · 2019: 20 · 2018: 17 · 2017: 14 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 16 · 2014: 4
FWCI
1.75
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Arthritis Care & Research (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
Supported by Abbott
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Rheumatology › Rheumatoid Arthritis Research and Therapies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Influenza Virus Research Studies
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › Immunotoxicology and immune responses
Keywords
rheumatoid arthritis, vaccine response, influenza vaccination, pneumococcal vaccine, methotrexate, anti-TNF therapy, rituximab, humoral immune response, antibody titers, biologic therapy, vaccine efficacy in immunocompromised patients, serotype 6B, serotype 23F, H1N1, H3N2
MeSH terms
Rituximab, Humans, Influenza Vaccines, Methotrexate, Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha, Down-Regulation, Antirheumatic Agents, Pneumococcal Vaccines, Immunity, Humoral, Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived

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