Abstract

Objective: To assess the effect of measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination on disease activity in children with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA).

Methods: A retrospective observational multicenter cohort study was performed in 314 JIA patients, born between 1989 and 1996. Disease activity and medication use were compared during the period of six months before versus six months after vaccination. Disease activity was measured by joint counts, physician’s global assessment and ESR. Next, we compared disease activity in patients vaccinated between 8 and 9 years of age with the activity in not yet vaccinated patients, who received MMR between age 9 and 10.

Results: No deterioration in disease activity and medication use was seen in the six months after MMR vaccination (n=207). This was also true for patients using methotrexate (n=49). No overt measles infections were noted. When disease activity in early vaccinated patients (n=108) was compared to activity in not yet vaccinated patients (n=86), there were no statistically significant differences.

Conclusions: The MMR booster vaccination seems not to aggravate JIA disease activity. This indicates that the majority of patients with JIA can be vaccinated safely with the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine. A prospective study is recommended.