Intranasal immunization with attenuated live influenza vaccine in asthma

Abstract

Attenuated live intranasal influenza vaccine (“Alice”) was given to 20 asthmatics and 9 control subjects. Pulmonary function tests were performed before and after, with emphasis on tests of small airways function (using flow volume curves with air and a helium-oxygen mixture). In subjects with a low influenza A antibody titer, there was a 4-fold rise in titer to the vaccine, whereas those subjects with a high titer showed no rise. There were no significant changes in pulmonary function in any parameters measured, and no significant symptoms were reported. We have concluded from this study that “Alice” appears safe for use in asthma and was capable of producing an antibody titer rise in persons with low titers.