Immunogenicity and reactogenicity of homologous mRNA-based and vector-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccine regimens in patients receiving maintenance dialysis

• Published in: Clinical immunology (Orlando, Fla.) Fla.), 2022-03, Vol.236, p.108961-108961, Article 108961
• Main Authors: Karakizlis, Hristos, Nahrgang, Christian, Strecker, Kevin, Chen, Jiangping, Aly, Mostafa, Slanina, Heiko, Schüttler, Christian G., Esso, Isla, Wolter, Martin, Todorova, Darina, Jessen, Sönke, Adamik, Andrea, Ronco, Claudio, Seeger, Werner, Weimer, Rolf, Sester, Martina, Birk, Horst-Walter, Husain-Syed, Faeq
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antibodies, Viral; BNT162 Vaccine; Cellular immune response; COVID-19 - prevention & control; COVID-19 Vaccines; Hemodialysis; Humans; Immunity, Humoral; Immunoglobulins; Peritoneal dialysis; Prospective Studies; Renal Dialysis; RNA, Messenger; SARS-CoV-2; T cells
• ISSN: 1521-6616; 1521-7035
• DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2022.108961

Patients receiving maintenance dialysis (MD) are vulnerable to COVID-19-related morbidity and mortality. Currently, data on SARS-CoV-2-specific cellular and humoral immunity post-vaccination in this population are scarce. We conducted a prospective single-center study exploring the specific cellular (interferon-γ and interleukin-2 ELISpot assays) and humoral immune responses (dot plot array and chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay [CMIA]) at 4 weeks and 6 weeks following a single dose or a complete homologous dual dose SARS-CoV-2 vaccine regimen in 60 MD patients (six with a history of COVID-19). Our results show that MD patients exhibit a high seroconversion rate (91.7%) but the anti-spike IgG antibodies (CMIA) tend to wane rapidly after full immunization. Only 51.7% of the patients developed T cell immune response. High anti-spike IgG antibodies may predict a better cellular immunity. While patients with prior COVID-19 showed the best response after one, SARS-CoV-2-naïve patients may benefit from a third vaccine injection.