Immune response to influenza vaccine and frequency of influenza virus infection in patients with inflammatory bowel disease on maintenance immunosuppressive therapy

Introduction: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients on immunosuppressive therapy are at increased risk of infective diseases, therefore seasonal influenza vaccination is recommended for them. Our aim was to evaluate the serologic and clinical response to influenza vaccine in immuncompromised IBD patients. Patients and methods. 143 immunosuppressed patients (87 with Crohn's disease, 56 with ulcerative colitis) were vaccinated against influenza. 59 patients (control group) refused to take vaccination. Trivalent inactivated split virion (n = 103) and inactivated, whole virion seasonal vaccines (n = 40) were use…