tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Rheumatology (Oxford)
. 2022 Mar 30;keac140.
doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keac140. Online ahead of print.
Humoral Response and Safety of BNT162b2 mRNA Vaccine in Children with Rheumatic Diseases under Immunomodulatory Treatment: A Preliminary Study
Özlem Akgün[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Figen Çakmak[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Vafa Guliyeva[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Fatma Gül Demirkan[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Ayşe Tanatar[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Selda Hançerli Torun[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Dilan Çin[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Sevim Meşe[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Ali Ağaçfidan[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Nuray Aktay Ayaz[SUP] 1 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Objectives: The vaccine represents a cornerstone in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic and with the approval of the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine in December 2020, it has become a beacon of hope for people around the world, including children. This study aimed to present the data on the humoral response and safety of vaccine in a cohort of patients with pediatric rheumatic diseases (PedRD) receiving immunomodulatory treatments.
Methods: Forty-one children with PedRD were included and were vaccinated with the BNT162b2 m-RNA vaccine (two doses of 30 µg administered three to four weeks apart). To assess the humoral response, IgG antibodies developed against the S1/Receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein at baseline and 3-4 weeks after the second dose were measured. The possible local and systemic side effects and disease activity scores were evaluated during the study period.
Results: After the second dose of vaccine, markedly elevated anti-RBD IgG titers were observed in all patients with a median titre of 20474 AU/ml (IQ range:6534-36151) with a good safety profile. The median disease duration was 4.3 (IQ: 3.5-5.6) years. In the cohort, 14 (34.1%) received cDMARDs, 16 (39%) received bDMARDs and 11 (26.8%) received a combined therapy (cDMARDs and bDMARDs). Patients treated with combined therapy (median 4695 [IQR:2764-26491]) had significantly lower median titers of anti-RBD IgG than those receiving only cDMARDs.
Conclusion: PedRD patients receiving immunomodulatory treatments were able to mount an effective humoral response after two dose regimens of BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine safely without interrupting their current treatments.
Keywords: BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine; Pediatric rheumatic disease; antibody response; coronavirus; immunogenicity.
. 2022 Mar 30;keac140.
doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keac140. Online ahead of print.
Humoral Response and Safety of BNT162b2 mRNA Vaccine in Children with Rheumatic Diseases under Immunomodulatory Treatment: A Preliminary Study
Özlem Akgün[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Figen Çakmak[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Vafa Guliyeva[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Fatma Gül Demirkan[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Ayşe Tanatar[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Selda Hançerli Torun[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Dilan Çin[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Sevim Meşe[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Ali Ağaçfidan[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Nuray Aktay Ayaz[SUP] 1 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 35353139
- DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/keac140
Abstract
Objectives: The vaccine represents a cornerstone in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic and with the approval of the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine in December 2020, it has become a beacon of hope for people around the world, including children. This study aimed to present the data on the humoral response and safety of vaccine in a cohort of patients with pediatric rheumatic diseases (PedRD) receiving immunomodulatory treatments.
Methods: Forty-one children with PedRD were included and were vaccinated with the BNT162b2 m-RNA vaccine (two doses of 30 µg administered three to four weeks apart). To assess the humoral response, IgG antibodies developed against the S1/Receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein at baseline and 3-4 weeks after the second dose were measured. The possible local and systemic side effects and disease activity scores were evaluated during the study period.
Results: After the second dose of vaccine, markedly elevated anti-RBD IgG titers were observed in all patients with a median titre of 20474 AU/ml (IQ range:6534-36151) with a good safety profile. The median disease duration was 4.3 (IQ: 3.5-5.6) years. In the cohort, 14 (34.1%) received cDMARDs, 16 (39%) received bDMARDs and 11 (26.8%) received a combined therapy (cDMARDs and bDMARDs). Patients treated with combined therapy (median 4695 [IQR:2764-26491]) had significantly lower median titers of anti-RBD IgG than those receiving only cDMARDs.
Conclusion: PedRD patients receiving immunomodulatory treatments were able to mount an effective humoral response after two dose regimens of BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine safely without interrupting their current treatments.
Keywords: BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine; Pediatric rheumatic disease; antibody response; coronavirus; immunogenicity.