The objective of the study was to evaluate antibody response, autoantibodies induction and disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients after polyvalent pneumococcal vaccination. SLE patients (n 37) were vaccinated with 23 valent pneumococcal vaccine. Systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index (SLEDAI) and specific IgG antibodies against pneumococcus were measured before and after vaccination. After inoculation 30 patients (85.7%) duplicated IgG anti pneumococcus baseline value, reaching protective levels of antibodies. We did not find significant differences in disease activity up to three months after vaccination.
In conclusion: after vaccination of this lupus population an 85.0% antibody response was obtained, without temporal associated disease flare or any serious adverse event.