The cellular and humoral immune response to influenza vaccination is comparable in asthmatic and healthy subjects.

Annual influenza vaccination is recommended as a preventive measure for all patients with asthma since asthma exacerbations in children and adults are associated to viral infections including influenza. There is concern about the adequate immune response in asthmatics with ICS treatment. The production of antibodies to influenza in asthmatics has been demonstrated. However, cellular immunity is poorly understood. The aim of the study was to compare the humoral and cellular immune responses to influenza vaccine in asthmatic and healthy subjects. Twenty-five asthmatic patients attending the Allergy and Clinical Immunology Service at the Hospital General de Mexico and 25 healthy adults were included. Blood samples were obtained before, 4 and 12 months after immunization with influenza vaccine, influenza-specific antibodies were determined by the hemagglutination inhibition test and influenza-specific memory B, TCD4+, and TCD8 + lymphocytes were determined by flow cytometry. All the asthmatic patients received ICS treatment. The Geometric Mean titers for all influenza serotypes were similar in both groups; seropositivity and the cellular immune response increased in both groups over time and was comparable. Influenza vaccination in asthmatic patients with immunotherapy and ICS achieved protective antibody levels and cellular immunity over time comparable to healthy subjects.