HPV vaccine appears safe for patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

The human papillomavirus vaccine did not significantly affect the number of disease flares or antibody measures in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus who received stable doses of medication after vaccination, researchers from China found.

Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) appear to have a significantly higher rate of HPV compared with healthy populations, according to a press release.

“Our study set out to investigate whether vaccination with Gardasil (Merck) increased disease flares in patients with SLE,” Chi Chiu Mok, MD, MRCP, of the Tuen Mun Hospital in Hong Kong, said in a press release. “The causal relationship between vaccination and flare wasn’t clear; however, what we do know is that the rate of flares was not increased post-vaccination, confirming that, in the cohort studied, Gardasil was safe for use.”

Mok and colleagues conducted a 6-month study of 50 women aged 18 to 35 years who were being treated for SLE within 3 months of the study. Patients were vaccinated at baseline, 2 months and 6 months via intramuscular injection, and the researchers analyzed various disease scores and antibody measures.

During the course of the study period, three mild-to-moderate mucocutaneous flares occurred; these flares were controlled with usual treatment regimens. The rate of flare-ups was lower (0.08 per patient per year) compared with the rate observed in a cohort of patients with SLE observed during a 5-year period (0.10 per patient per year). However, the reason for this discrepancy is unknown.

The researchers reported no significant changes in the levels of antibody measures used to assess the level of disease activity, according to the release. In addition, disease flares, disease activity scores and physicians’ global assessment scores were consistent from baseline to 2 and 6 months.

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