Research & Innovation
Publications
Recall response to COVID-19 antigen is preserved in people with multiple sclerosis on anti-CD20 medications - A pilot study.
PMU Authors
Tobias Moser, Ferdinand Otto, Wolfgang Hitzl, Georg Pilz, Andrea Harrer, Eugen Trinka, Peter Wipfler
All Authors
Tobias Moser, Ferdinand Otto, Ciara O"Sullivan, Wolfgang Hitzl, Georg Pilz, Andrea Harrer, Eugen Trinka, Peter Wipfler
Journal association
Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders
Abstract
BackgroundAntibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination are impaired in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) under anti-CD20 therapies. It is however unclear, whether patients who received the basic immunization prior to anti-B cell medication start respond to the COVID-19 booster dose, once B cells are depleted.AimTo investigate the humoral response to recall antigen by COVID-19 booster vaccines in people with MS (pwMS), who recently started an anti-CD20 therapy compared to people with long-term B cell depletion.MethodsWe enrolled 15 pwMS who had received booster vaccination on anti-CD20 therapy. Of these, 11 had established anti-CD20 medications and were therefore vaccinated during a continuous state of B cell depletion (CD20-vaccine cohort). Four pwMS had received the basic immunization prior to anti-CD20 therapy commencement and only the booster dose (vaccine-CD20-vaccine cohort) under conditions of B cell depletion. We assessed SARS-CoV-2 specific antibody responses after booster vaccination among both groups and evaluated accompanying B cell numbers and proportions from the peripheral circulation.ResultsThe booster dose of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination elicited measurable antibody responses in 18% of individuals from the CD20-vaccine cohort compared to 100% from the vaccine-CD20-vaccine cohort. Antibody-levels were significantly higher among patients from the vaccine-CD20-vaccine cohort compared to the CD20-vaccine cohort (mean 951.25 ± 1137.96 BAU/ml, vs mean 12.36 ± 11.94 BAU/ml; mean difference 938 BAU/ml (95% CI: 249-1629 BAU/ml), p ConclusionOur study suggests that antibody production to recall COVID-19 antigens is preserved in pwMS despite concomitant anti-CD20 therapy. If corroborated in bigger cohorts, this could have implications in the management of individuals about to start B cell medications.
Keywords
CELLS, MEMORY, OCRELIZUMAB, IMMUNOTHERAPY