SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination in Kidney Transplant Recipients—Stratified Analysis of the Humoral Immune Response

Alexander Lammert, MD; Peter Schnuelle, MD; Holger F. Rabenau, MD; Sandra Ciesek, MD; Bernhard K. Krämer, MD; Uwe Göttmann, MD; Felix Drüschler, MD; Christine Keller, MD; Daniela Rose, MD; Carsten Blume, MD; Michael Thomas, MD; Niko Kohmer, MD; Anne Lammert, MD

doi:10.1097/TXD.0000000000001384

Transplantation Direct (Nov 2022)

SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination in Kidney Transplant Recipients—Stratified Analysis of the Humoral Immune Response

Alexander Lammert, MD,
Peter Schnuelle, MD,
Holger F. Rabenau, MD,
Sandra Ciesek, MD,
Bernhard K. Krämer, MD,
Uwe Göttmann, MD,
Felix Drüschler, MD,
Christine Keller, MD,
Daniela Rose, MD,
Carsten Blume, MD,
Michael Thomas, MD,
Niko Kohmer, MD,
Anne Lammert, MD

Affiliations

Alexander Lammert, MD: 1 NEDD*Grünstadt, Grünstadt, Germany.
Peter Schnuelle, MD: 2 Department of Medicine V, University Medical Center Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany.
Holger F. Rabenau, MD: 4 Institute for Medical Virology, University Hospital, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt, Germany.
Sandra Ciesek, MD: 4 Institute for Medical Virology, University Hospital, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt, Germany.
Bernhard K. Krämer, MD: 2 Department of Medicine V, University Medical Center Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany.
Uwe Göttmann, MD: 2 Department of Medicine V, University Medical Center Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany.
Felix Drüschler, MD: 10 Nierenzentrum Heppenheim, Heppenheim, Germany.
Christine Keller, MD: 1 NEDD*Grünstadt, Grünstadt, Germany.
Daniela Rose, MD: 1 NEDD*Grünstadt, Grünstadt, Germany.
Carsten Blume, MD: 1 NEDD*Grünstadt, Grünstadt, Germany.
Michael Thomas, MD: 1 NEDD*Grünstadt, Grünstadt, Germany.
Niko Kohmer, MD: 4 Institute for Medical Virology, University Hospital, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt, Germany.
Anne Lammert, MD: 11 Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Medical Center Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/TXD.0000000000001384
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 8, no. 11
p. e1384

Abstract

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Background. Kidney transplant recipients are at increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and a more severe course of COVID-19. Methods. We conducted a quantitative serologic testing of antibodies specific for the wild type of SARS-CoV-2 and the Omicron variant of concern before and after a third-dose vaccination, either mRNA-1273 (Moderna) or BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) in a cohort of 103 stable kidney transplant recipients (median [range] age, 58 [22–84] y, 57 men [55.3%]). Results. Third-dose vaccination increased the seroconversion rate from 57.3% to 71.8%. However, despite a marked rise of the antibody concentrations after the booster, 55.4% and 11.6% only formed neutralizing antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 wild type and Omicron, respectively. Treatment with mycophenolic acid/mycophenolate mofetil (in strata of the dose quartiles), advanced age, and‚ above all‚ impaired renal function (eGFR <60 mL/min) adversely influenced the humoral immunity regarding seroconversion and inhibition of the wild type of SARS-CoV-2. Conclusions. Apart from immunosuppressive therapy, the humoral vaccination response is largely affected by nonmodifiable factors in kidney transplant recipients. With the currently leading and clinically easier Omicron variant, this puts into perspective the strategy to significantly enhance the protective efficacy of the available vaccines by reducing or temporarily stopping proliferation inhibitors, not least considering the inherent rejection risk with a possible deterioration of graft function.

Published in Transplantation Direct

ISSN: 2373-8731 (Online)
Publisher: Wolters Kluwer
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Medicine: Surgery
Website: http://journals.lww.com/transplantationdirect/Pages/default.aspx

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