LAUSR

Abstract Background Influenza vaccine is recommended for patients with autoimmune inflammatory diseases (AIID) on biological therapy. Objective To evaluate whether serological response to Influenza vaccine obtained in patients on biological therapy is similar to that achieved in patients on synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and that obtained in healthy controls. Methods We designed a cohort study in which patients with AIID, 68 on biological therapy and 46 on synthetic DMARDs, as well as 48 healthy controls, were included and vaccinated during the 2015–2016 influenza season. ELISA was used to measure Influenza antigen (Ag) A and B antibodies, before and after vaccination. Results After vaccination, 88.24% of patients on biologics, 71.74% of those on synthetic DMARDs and 89.58% of healthy controls, presented detectable antibodies against antigen A, while 42.65% of subjects on biologics, 41.30% of those on DMARDs and 54.17% of healthy subjects were seropositive against Ag B. We did not find statistical differences. Conclusions In our study, biological therapy is not associated with worse serological response.