SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in patients with systemic sclerosis: impact of disease subtype and therapy

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Sampaio-Barros, Percival Degrava ; Medeiros-Ribeiro, Ana Cristina ; Luppino-Assad, Ana Paula ; Miossi, Renata ; da Silva, Henrique Carrico ; Yuki, Emily F. V. N. ; Pasoto, Sandra G. ; Saad, Carla G. S. ; Silva, Clovis A. ; Kupa, Leonard V. K. ; Deveza, Giordano B. H. ; Pedrosa, Tatiana N. ; Aikawa, Nadia E. ; Bonfa, Eloisa

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: RHEUMATOLOGY; v. 61, n. SI2, p. 6-pg., 2021-12-11.

Abstract

Objective. To analyse the safety, immunogenicity and factors affecting antibody response to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccination in patients with SSc. Methods. This is a phase 4 prospective study within a larger trial of two doses of inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (CoronaVac) in 51 SSc patients compared with 153 controls. Anti-SARS-CoV-2-IgG and neutralizing antibodies (NAb) were assessed at each vaccine shot (D0/D28) and 6 weeks after the second dose(D69), only in individuals with negative baseline IgG/NAb and those who did not have coronavirus-19(COVID19) during follow-up. Vaccine safety was also assessed in all participants. Results. Patients and controls had comparable median ages [48(38.5-57) vs 48(38-57) years, P =0.945]. Patients had mostly diffuse SSc (68.6%) and the majority (74.5%) had interstitial lung disease. Most patients were under immunosuppressive therapy (72.5%), mainly MMF (52.9%). After full vaccination (D69), anti-SARS-CoV-2-IgG frequency (64.1% vs 94.2%, P < 0.001) and NAb positivity (53.8% vs 76.9%; P =0.006) were moderate, although lower than controls. The first dose response (D28) was low and comparable for both seroconvertion rates (SC) (P =0.958) and NAb positivity (P =0.537). SSc patients under MMF monotherapy vs other (no therapy/other DMARDs) had lower immunogenicity (SC: 31.3% vs 90%, P < 0.001) and NAb(18.8% vs 85%, P < 0.001). Multiple regression analysis confirmed that MMF use, but not disease subtype, is associated with insufficient seroconversion [odds ratio (OR)=0.056(95% CI: 0.009, 0.034), P =0.002] and NAb positivity [OR =0.047(95% CI: 0.007, 0.036), P =0.002]. No moderate/severe side-effects were observed. Conclusion. CoronaVac has an excellent safety profile and moderate response to anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in SSc. Vaccine antibody response is not influenced by disease subtype and is greatly affected by MMF, reinforcing the need for additional strategies to up-modulate vaccine response in this subgroup of patients. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 15/03756-4 - Assessment of relevance of blood levels of drugs in the monitoring rheumatic autoimmune diseases: safety, effectiveness and adherence to therapy
• Grantee: Eloisa Silva Dutra de Oliveira Bonfá
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 19/17272-0 - Relevance of monitoring blood levels compared to salivar levels of drugs used in rheumatic autoimmune diseases: adherence and understanding the possible underlying mechanisms involved in effectiveness and in adverse effects
• Grantee: Leonard de Vinci Kanda Kupa
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral