(Reuters Health)—Adults 50 years and older who take tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi’s) for a range of inflammatory disorders can receive effective protection from shingles with a live varicella zoster vaccine, a clinical trial suggests.1 Researchers randomized 617 participants receiving TNFi’s in a 1:1 ratio to receive either the Zostavax live varicella zoster vaccine or…
Varicella Zoster Virus Not Associated with Giant Cell Arteritis Pathogenesis
Researchers suggest antiviral therapy is not appropriate for patients with GCA, based on their study findings and related research…
GlaxoSmithKline’s Shingles Vaccine Gets Approval in Canada
(Reuters)—Canadian health regulators have approved GlaxoSmithKline’s shingles vaccine, the company said on Friday.1 Shingrix, the British pharma company’s shingles vaccine for people aged 50 years or older, was unanimously recommended for approval by a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory panel last week. Older people are most at risk of an outbreak of shingles,…
Tofacitinib After Live Shingles Vaccination Does Not Impair Immunogenicity
NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Tofacitinib begun two to three weeks after live zoster vaccination does not impair immunogenicity, and vaccination appears to be safe in patients with pre-existing varicella zoster virus (VZV) immunity, researchers report. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are about twice as likely as healthy adults to develop herpes zoster, or shingles, and the…
Research in Temporal Arteritis Suggests Link with Infection, Autoimmune Disease
Temporal arteritis was first described by Sir Jonathan Hutchinson in 1890 in an elderly retired gentleman’s servant who developed red, painful streaks on his temples and was found to have bilaterally swollen temporal arteries with feeble pulses.1 Sir Hutchinson disputed the suggestion that the red streaks were caused by the man’s hat and, instead, called…
Varicella Zoster Virus May Cause Giant Cell Arteritis
Researchers have recently discovered a connection between the varicella zoster virus infection, which causes chicken pox and shingles, and giant cell arteritis…
Shingles, Chickenpox Hospitalizations Higher for Patients on Anti-TNF Drugs
More research needed to clarify risks and benefits of VZV vaccination