The Safety and Immunologic Effectiveness of the Live Varicella-Zoster Vaccine in Patients Receiving Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitor Therapy A Randomized Controlled Trial Article

Full Text via DOI: 10.7326/M20-6928 Web of Science: 000743694300016

Cited authors

  • Curtis JR, Cofield SS, Bridges SL, Bassler J, Deodhar A, Ford TL, Huffstutter J, Jankeel A, Kivitz A, Kamal S, Lindsey S, Messaoudi I, Mendoza N, Michaud K, Mikuls TR, Ridley D, Shergy W, Siegel SAR, Winthrop KL

Abstract

  • Background: The safety and effectiveness of live virus vaccines, such as the varicella-zoster vaccine, are unknown in patients with inflammatory diseases receiving immunomodulatory therapy such as tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFis).Objective: To evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of the live attenuated zoster vaccine (ZVL) in patients receiving TNFis.Design: Randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled trial. (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02538341)Setting: Academic and community-based rheumatology, gastroenterology, and dermatology practices.Patients: Adults aged 50 years or older receiving TNFis for any indication.Intervention: Random assignment to ZVL versus placebo.Measurements: Glycoprotein enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (gpELISA) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot (ELISpot) from serum and peripheral blood mononuclear cells measured at baseline and 6 weeks after vaccination. Suspected varicella infection or herpes zoster was clinically assessed using digital photographs and polymerase chain reaction on vesicular fluid.Results: Between March 2015 and December 2018, 617 participants were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive ZVL n = 310) or placebo (n = 307) at 33 centers. Mean age was 62.7 years (SD, 7.5); 66.1% of participants were female, 90% were White, 8.2% were Black, and 5.9% were Hispanic. The most common TNFi indications were rheumatoid arthritis (57.6%) and psoriatic arthritis (24.1%); TNFi medications were adalimumab (32.7%), infliximab (31.3%), etanercept (21.2%), golimumab (9.1%), and certolizumab (5.7%).Limitation: Potentially limited generalizability to patients receiving other types of immunomodulators.Concomitant therapies included methotrexate (48.0%) and oral glucocorticoids (10.5%). Through week 6, no cases of confirmed varicella infection were found; cumulative incidence of varicella infection or shingles was 0.0% (95% CI, 0.0% to 1.2%). At 6 weeks, compared with baseline, the mean increases in geometric mean fold rise as measured by gpELISA and ELISpot were 1.33 percentage points (CI, 1.17 to 1.51 percentage points) and 1.39 percentage points (CI, 1.07 to 1.82 percentage points), respectively. Conclusion: This trial informs safety concerns related to use of live virus vaccines in patients receiving biologics.

Authors

Publication date

  • 2021

Published in

Category

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 0003-4819

Number of pages

  • 12

Start page

  • 1510

End page

  • +

Volume

  • 174

Issue

  • 11