Trial of High Dose vs. Standard Dose Influenza Vaccine in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract which includes Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). A recent epidemiological investigation estimates that nearly 4 million people worldwide are affected and approximately 1.4 million of these cases occur in the United States. IBD can lead to debilitating symptoms, hospitalizations, decreased quality of life, frequent procedures and/or surgery. Treatment options consist of immunosuppressive therapy, such as systemic corticosteroids, immunomodulators (thiopurines and methotrexate) and/or biologics, such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF) agents or an integrin inhibitor, vedolizumab. They can achieve clinical remission and decrease the risk of complications, but also increase the risk for opportunistic infections, including influenza.

Multiple studies have shown lower influenza vaccine responses in patients with IBD compared to healthy individuals; IBD patients treated with TNF agents or combination therapy (TNF inhibitors and immunomodulators) are very likely to mount a poor immune response. Influenza serum antibody concentration correlates with protection from infection following vaccination. Therefore, increasing influenza antibody responses in patients with IBD would appear to be critical to improving protection from influenza. A high dose (HD) influenza vaccine containing four times more hemagglutinin was licensed based on its ability to induce higher antibody concentrations compared to standard dose (SD) in adults 65 years or older.


Eligibility Criteria:
CASES Specific Aim #1 Inclusion Criteria

* A history of chronic (greater than 3 month) ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease diagnosed and documented by the standard clinical, radiographic, endoscopic and histopathologic criteria.
* Ages 18-64
* Currently taking anti-TNF therapy (infliximab, golilumab, adalimumab, or certolizumab) for at least 3 months
* Exclusion Criteria
* Received season's influenza vaccine
* Allergy to eggs or influenza vaccine
* Currently use of systemic steroids in the past 3 months

Specific Aim #2 Inclusion criteria

* A history of chronic (greater than 3 month) ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease diagnosed and documented by the standard clinical, radiographic, endoscopic and histopathologic criteria.
* Ages 18-64
* Currently on vedolizumab therapy

Exclusion Criteria

* Received season's influenza vaccine
* Allergy to eggs or influenza vaccine
* Currently use of systemic steroids in the past 3 months

Control group Inclusion criteria

* Age 18-64
* Willing to participate in study

Control group Exclusion criteria

* Currently on immunosuppressive therapy
* Has a chronic health condition that may have an impact on vaccine antibody concentrations as deemed by the investigators, including chronic liver disease, celiac disease, history of solid organ or bone marrow transplantation.
* Older than age 65 years
* Unconfirmed Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccination status
* Patients in whom venipuncture are not feasible due to poor tolerability or lack of easy access.