Patients with systemic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases are at risk of vaccine-preventable illnesses.

Objective: To evaluate vaccine coverage and humoral immunity to tetanus, diphtheria and poliomyelitis in adults followed for systemic inflammatory and/or autoimmune diseases (SIADs).

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between June and August 2006 in a monocentric cohort of adults with SIAD. A standardized questionnaire was administered to collect medical, therapeutic and vaccine coverage data. Blood samples were collected in order to measure antibody titres against diphtheria, tetanus and poliomyelitis (DTP).

Results: One hundred and eighty-six patients, 32% males, mean (s.d.) age 51 (16) years, 79% receiving CSs and/or immunosuppressants, were included. The vaccine coverage was 29% for diphtheria, 48% for tetanus and 33% for poliomyelitis. The percentages of patients with no humoral immunity against DTP were 44, 21 and 12%, respectively, decreasing to 37.5, 10 and 0%, respectively, for those who had received a vaccine booster in the last 10 years. In a multivariate analysis, age and CS treatment were associated with the absence of humoral immunity against diphtheria and female sex, CD4(+) T cell <200/mm(3) and an absence of tetanus vaccine booster in the last 10 years with the absence of humoral immunity to tetanus.

Conclusion: Vaccine coverage against tetanus, diphtheria and poliomyelitis is low in patients with SIAD despite the risk in this population of severe infection, especially when receiving immunosuppressants. A significant proportion of them had no humoral immunity against diphtheria or tetanus. Specific immunization schedules need to be optimized in these patients.