Secondary Immunodeficiency and Vaccine Response in Rheumatoid and Psoriatic Arthritis on Immunosuppressive Medicines

TL;DR

This study finds that arthritis patients on immunosuppressive drugs often show signs of weakened immune responses, especially to certain vaccines.

Contribution

The study demonstrates that secondary immunodeficiency is detectable in arthritis patients through vaccine response assessments.

Findings

88% of subjects had suboptimal response to pneumococcal vaccination.

6% of subjects had suboptimal response to all vaccinations tested.

Low IgM levels were observed in 17% of subjects.

Abstract

Background

Rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis patients have dysregulated immune system parameters that may increase infection risk at baseline. In addition, treatment of these conditions with immunosuppressive medications may lead to the development of secondary immunodeficiency (SID). Our objective was to assess SID in a cohort on immunosuppressive medications. We hypothesized that SID is clinically detectable by assessing immune parameters and polysaccharide and protein-based vaccination responses.

Methodology

A prospective cohort study of 42 subjects on immunosuppressive medications was assessed. Analysis included immunoglobulin levels, lymphocyte subsets, and two-step response to diphtheria, tetanus, and 23-valent Streptococcus pneumoniae vaccinations. Exclusions included primary immunodeficiency, malignancy, pregnancy, neutropenia, immunoglobulin replacement, prior B-cell-depleting medication or chemotherapy, use of non-immunosuppressive medication, or recent use of glucocorticoids. Suboptimal vaccine response was defined as an abnormal response based on standard criteria for each vaccine.

Results

Low IgM levels (below 50 mg/dL) occurred in seven (17%) subjects and IgG (below 650 mg/dL) in three (7%) subjects. Impaired lymphocyte subsets were uncommon. In total, 33 (78%) subjects completed the two-step vaccination assessment. Overall, 29 of 33 (88%) subjects demonstrated suboptimal response to pneumococcal vaccination, 10 (30%) demonstrated suboptimal response to diphtheria, and four (12%) to tetanus. Two (6%) subjects demonstrated suboptimal response to all vaccinations. Finally, 31 (94%) subjects demonstrated suboptimal response to at least one vaccination.

Conclusions

SID may develop, is clinically detectable, and most notably demonstrated in suboptimal responses to polysaccharide vaccinations, especially against S. pneumoniae.