Recent study proves safety and efficacy of Herpes Zoster vaccine for lupus

A randomised study conducted at Seoul National University Hospital revealed that the adjuvanted herpes zoster subunit vaccine is highly effective and safe for patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). 

This study published in ‘The Lancet- Rheumatology’ included patients (aged ≥19 years) with clinically stable SLE and with a history of exposure (more than equal to 4 weeks) to immunosuppressive drugs. They received two doses of the vaccine or intramuscular placebo injection at weeks 0 and 8. Immune responses were evaluated at several points over a year.

Levels of anti-glycoprotein E antibodies and glycoprotein E-specific cell-mediated vaccine responses were assessed at the study's outset, as well as at week 8 post-first dose, and at different time points (weeks 4, 26, and 52) following the second dose. Additionally, the study analyzed reactogenicity along with the SLE disease activity. The main objective was to determine the proportion of patients exhibiting a positive humoral vaccine response four weeks after receiving the second dose. 

Study Highlights:

• Robust Immune Response: 98% of vaccinated SLE patients demonstrated a strong humoral immune response four weeks after the second dose, compared to none in the placebo group.
• Injection Site Reactions: Observed in 42 patients in the vaccine group compared to only 2 in the placebo group.
• Fever: Reported by 10 patients who were administered the vaccine and none with the placebo.
• Fatigue: Experienced by 26 patients in the vaccine group, compared to 2 in the other group (placebo).
• Lupus Activity: No significant differences in lupus disease activity or flare rates between the vaccine and placebo groups.
• Safety: No severe adverse events or treatment-related deaths were reported.

The study supports the vaccine's potential to provide strong protection against shingles in SLE patients, suggestive of the need for larger trials to further validate these promising results.