Safety and efficacy of vaccination against influenza in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Vaccination against influenza is currently recommended for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The safety and efficacy of vaccination in patients suffering from rheumatic diseases is still a matter of debate. This review summarizes the studies performed on the safety and immunogenicity of influenza vaccination in patients with RA as well as the rheumatic complications of the vaccine in otherwise healthy persons. Several trials have shown that the vaccine induces an adequate humoral response and does not induce clinical exacerbation of RA. Rheumatic complications (mainly vasculitis) following influenza vaccination in the general population are scarce.