OBJECTIVE: To obtain an overview of rheumatic disorders occurring after hepatitis B vaccination. METHODS: A questionnaire was sent to rheumatology departments in nine French hospitals. Criteria for entry were rheumatic complaints of 1 week's duration or more, occurrence during the 2 months following hepatitis B vaccination, no previously diagnosed rheumatic disease and no other explanation for the complaints. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients were included. The observed disorders were as follows: rheumatoid arthritis for six patients; exacerbation of a previously non-diagnosed systemic lupus erythematosus for two; post-vaccinal arthritis for five; polyarthralgia-myalgia for four; suspected or biopsy-proved vasculitis for three; miscellaneous for two. CONCLUSIONS: Hepatitis B vaccine might be followed by various rheumatic conditions and might trigger the onset of underlying inflammatory or autoimmune rheumatic diseases. However, a causal relationship between hepatitis B vaccination and the observed rheumatic manifestations cannot be easily established. Further epidemiological studies are needed to establish whether hepatitis B vaccination is associated or not with an incidence of rheumatic disorders higher than normal.
OBJECTIVE: To obtain an overview of rheumatic disorders occurring after hepatitis B vaccination. METHODS: A questionnaire was sent to rheumatology departments in nine French hospitals. Criteria for entry were rheumatic complaints of 1 week's duration or more, occurrence during the 2 months following hepatitis B vaccination, no previously diagnosed rheumatic disease and no other explanation for the complaints. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients were included. The observed disorders were as follows: rheumatoid arthritis for six patients; exacerbation of a previously non-diagnosed systemic lupus erythematosus for two; post-vaccinal arthritis for five; polyarthralgia-myalgia for four; suspected or biopsy-proved vasculitis for three; miscellaneous for two. CONCLUSIONS:Hepatitis B vaccine might be followed by various rheumatic conditions and might trigger the onset of underlying inflammatory or autoimmune rheumatic diseases. However, a causal relationship between hepatitis B vaccination and the observed rheumatic manifestations cannot be easily established. Further epidemiological studies are needed to establish whether hepatitis B vaccination is associated or not with an incidence of rheumatic disorders higher than normal.
Authors: I Fomin; D Caspi; V Levy; N Varsano; Y Shalev; D Paran; D Levartovsky; I Litinsky; I Kaufman; I Wigler; E Mendelson; O Elkayam Journal: Ann Rheum Dis Date: 2005-07-13 Impact factor: 19.103
Authors: R A Luosujärvi; T M Husman; M Seuri; M A Pietikäinen; P Pollari; J Pelkonen; H T Hujakka; O A Kaipiainen-Seppänen; K Aho Journal: Clin Rheumatol Date: 2003-10-14 Impact factor: 2.980