Abstract: PO0130
Early Humoral Responses of Hemodialysis Patients After COVID-19 Vaccination with BNT162b2
Session Information
- COVID-19: Vaccines, Diagnosis, and Treatment
November 04, 2021 | Location: On-Demand, Virtual Only
Abstract Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Category: Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- 000 Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Authors
- Speer, Claudius, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- Benning, Louise, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- Nusshag, Christian, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- Kälble, Florian, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- Schnitzler, Paul, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- Zeier, Martin G., University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- Morath, Christian, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- Süsal, Caner, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- Klein, Katrin, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
Background
Patients receiving hemodialysis are at high risk for both SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe COVID-19. A life-saving vaccine is available, but sensitivity to vaccines is lower in dialysis patients. Little is yet known about antibody response after COVID-19 vaccination in this vulnerable group.
Methods
In this prospective study, we included 22 dialysis patients and 46 healthy controls from Heidelberg University. We measured anti-S1 IgG with a threshold index for detection >1, neutralizing antibodies, and antibodies against different SARS-CoV-2 fragments 17–22 days after the first and 18–22 days after the second dose of BNT162b2.
Results
After the first vaccine dose, 4/22 (18%) dialysis patients compared with 43/46 (93%) healthy controls developed positive anti-S1 IgG, with a median (IQR) anti-S1 IgG index of 0.2 (0.1–0.7) compared with 9 (4–16), respectively. SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies exceeded the threshold for neutralization in 4/22 (18%) dialysis patients compared with 43/46 (93%) in healthy controls, with a median (IQR) percent inhibition of 11 (3–24) compared with 65 (49–75), respectively. After the second dose, 14/17 (82%) of dialysis patients developed neutralizing antibodies exceeding the threshold for viral neutralization and antibodies against the receptor-binding S1-domain of the spike protein, compared to 46/46 (100%) of healthy controls, respectively. The median (IQR) percent inhibition was 51 (32–86) compared to 98 (97–98) in healthy controls.
Conclusion
Patients receiving long-term hemodialysis show a reduced antibody response to the first and second doses of the mRNA vaccine BNT162b2. The majority (82%) develop neutralizing antibodies after the second dose, but at lower levels than healthy controls.
Figure 1