Vaccines May Trigger Neuromyelitis Optica Relapses
Vaccines increase the risk of relapse in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) who are not being treated with immunosuppressive therapy, according to the findings of a recent study. However, patients receiving immunotherapy are less likely to experienced relapses if vaccinated.
The findings were presented at the 7th Joint European Committee for the Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis and Americas Committee for the Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis meeting.
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In their retrospective study, the researchers analyzed data of 90 patients who had received a total of 211 vaccinations and experienced 340 relapses over a median disease-duration of 6.6 years.
Overall, relapses within 30 days, 31 to 60 days, and 61 to 90 days of vaccination occurred in 7, 6, and 4 patients, respectively.
The researchers found that the rate of vaccine-associated relapse was significantly higher among patients with NMOSD who were not receiving immunotherapy compared with the likelihood of a spontaneous relapse occurring within the given time frame. Conversely, those receiving immunotherapy did not experienced any significant increases in the risk of vaccine-associated relapse.
In addition, the researchers found that patients with NMOSD who were receiving immunotherapy and were vaccinated had significantly lower annualized relapse rates than those who were not vaccinated but receiving immunotherapy.
“The evidence suggests that there is a risk of vaccination-associated relapses among untreated NMOSD patients; however immunosuppressive therapy at time of vaccine aborts the risk,” the researchers concluded.
—Melissa Weiss
Reference:
Mealy MA, Cook LJ, Pache F, et al. Vaccines increase the risk of relapses in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder among untreated patients. Presented at: 7th Joint ECTRIMS-ACTRIMS Meeting; October 25-28, 2017; Paris, FR. Abstract P496.