Lu Y, Jacobson DL, Ashworth LA et al. Am J Gastroenterol 2009;104:444–53.
The present investigators undertook a prospective, open-label study to determine the serological response to a trivalent influenza vaccine in 146 children with IBD. They found that more patients were protected against the two A strains present in the vaccine than against the B strain, regardless of their immunosuppressive status. Recipients of anti-tumor necrosis factor agents were less likely to be protected post-vaccination than those not on these drugs.
In this study of the immune response to influenza vaccine in children with IBD, serum was obtained from 146 subjects with IBD immediately before and after they were administered a trivalent vaccine. Subjects returned for repeat titer measurements 3–9 weeks later. A hemagglutination inhibition titer of ≥40 was considered seroprotective. Medications were categorized as non-immunosuppressive (no medications, antibiotics only, or 5-aminosalicylates [5-ASA]; n=20), corticosteroids (n=12), immunosuppressives (purine analogues; n=59), tacrolimus (n=12), or anti-tumor necrosis factor agents (anti-TNFs; n=45).