Vaccines (May 2022)

Comparison of Immunogenicity and Safety of Inactivated, Adenovirus-Vectored, and Heterologous Adenovirus-Vectored/mRNA Vaccines in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Prospective Cohort Study

  • Theerada Assawasaksakul,
  • Tanat Lertussavavivat,
  • Seelwan Sathitratanacheewin,
  • Nont Oudomying,
  • Preeyaporn Vichaiwattana,
  • Nasamon Wanlapakorn,
  • Yong Poovorawan,
  • Yingyos Avihingsanon,
  • Nawaporn Assawasaksakul,
  • Supranee Buranapraditkun,
  • Wonngarm Kittanamongkolchai

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines10060853
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10, no. 6
p. 853

Abstract

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Background: Impaired immune responses to COVID-19 vaccines have been observed in autoimmune rheumatic disease patients. Determining the most effective and safe vaccine regimen is critically needed in such a population. We aim to compare the immunogenicity and safety of three COVID-19 vaccine regimens in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods: SLE and RA patients aged 18–65 years who received inactivated (CoronaVac or COVILO), adenovirus-vectored (AZD1222), or heterogeneous (AZD1222/BNT162b2) vaccines were enrolled. Humoral and cellular immune responses were assessed at day 28 after the second vaccination. This was performed using the serum binding antibody level against the receptor-binding domain of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (anti-RBD Ig) and IFNy-ELISpot assay (ELISpot), respectively. Reactogenicity was reviewed on day 7 following each vaccination. Disease activity was assessed before and on day 28 after the second vaccination. Results: The cohort consisted of 94 patients (64 SLE and 30 RA). Inactivated, AZD1222, and AZD1222/BNT162b2 vaccines were administered to 23, 43, and 28 patients, respectively. Anti-RBD titers were lowest in the inactivated vaccine group (2.84 AU/mL; 95% CI 0.96–8.44), followed by AZD1222 (233.7 AU/mL; 95% CI 99.0–505.5), and AZD1222/BNT162b2 (688.6 AU/mL; 95% CI 271–1745), p p = 0.03). All types of vaccine were well-tolerated. There was no flare of autoimmune disease post-vaccination. Conclusion: Adenovirus-vectored and adenovirus-vectored/mRNA vaccines elicited a stronger humoral and cellular immune response than inactivated vaccines, suggesting that they may be more suitable in SLE and RA patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy.

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