Hepatitis B vaccine less effective in rheumatoid arthritis patients

(European League Against Rheumatism) The results of a study presented today at the European League Against Rheumatism Annual Congress (EULAR 2015) press conference showed that people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are less likely to be protected by hepatitis B vaccination than the general population. Within the trial only 11 percent of those with the condition responded to the vaccine, compared with 83 percent of those without RA, suggesting that people with RA may still be at risk of infection in spite of vaccination.
Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health - Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news