Humoral and cellular immunity to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in renal transplant versus dialysis patients: A prospective, multicenter observational study using mRNA-1273 or BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Julian Stumpf - , Department of Internal Medicine III (Author)
  • Torsten Siepmann - , Klinikum Chemnitz gGmbH (Author)
  • Tom Lindner - , Leipzig University (Author)
  • Claudia Karger - , Klinikum St. Georg Leipzig (Author)
  • Jörg Schwöbel - , Dialysezentrum Chemnitz (Author)
  • Leona Anders - , Dialysepraxis Leipzig (Author)
  • Robert Faulhaber-Walter - , Nephrologisches Zentrum Freiberg (Author)
  • Jens Schewe - , Dialyse- und Nierenambulanz Sebnitz (Author)
  • Heike Martin - , Heinrich-Braun-Klinikum gGmbH (Author)
  • Holger Schirutschke - , Municipal Hospital Dresden (Author)
  • Kerstin Barnett - , Dialyse Heidenau (Author)
  • Jan Hüther - , Nephrocare GmbH Döbeln (Author)
  • Petra Müller - , PHV Dialysezentrum Dresden-Johannstadt (Author)
  • Torsten Langer - , Dialysezentrum Annaberg (Author)
  • Thilo Pluntke - , KfH-Zentrum Grimma (Author)
  • Kirsten Anding-Rost - , KfH-Zentrum Bischofswerda (Author)
  • Frank Meistring - , Görlitz Clinic (Author)
  • Thomas Stehr - , KfH-Zentrum Bautzen (Author)
  • Annegret Pietzonka - , Via medis Nierenzentrum Dresden MVZ GmbH (Author)
  • Katja Escher - , KfH-Zentrum Aue-Bad Schlema (Author)
  • Simon Cerny - , ELBLAND Dialyse Großenhain (Author)
  • Hansjörg Rothe - , Dialyse-Praxis Weißwasser (Author)
  • Frank Pistrosch - , Nephrologisches Zentrum Hoyerswerda (Author)
  • Harald Seidel - , KfH-Zentrum Plauen (Author)
  • Alexander Paliege - , Department of Internal Medicine III (Author)
  • Joachim Beige - , Klinikum St. Georg Leipzig, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (Author)
  • Ingolf Bast - , Dialysepraxis Leipzig (Author)
  • Anne Steglich - , Department of Internal Medicine III (Author)
  • Florian Gembardt - , Department of Internal Medicine III (Author)
  • Friederike Kessel - , Department of Internal Medicine III (Author)
  • Hannah Kröger - , Department of Internal Medicine III (Author)
  • Patrick Arndt - , Department of Internal Medicine III (Author)
  • Jan Sradnick - , Department of Internal Medicine III (Author)
  • Kerstin Frank - , DRK Blutspendendienst Nord Ost gGmbH (Author)
  • Anna Klimova - , TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • René Mauer - , University Medicine (Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital) (Author)
  • Xina Grählert - , Administrative Units of the Faculty of Medicine, Coordination Centre for Clinical Studies Dresden (KKS-DD) (Author)
  • Moritz Anft - , Ruhr University Bochum (Author)
  • Arturo Blazquez-Navarro - , Ruhr University Bochum (Author)
  • Timm H. Westhoff - , Ruhr University Bochum (Author)
  • Ulrik Stervbo - , Ruhr University Bochum (Author)
  • Torsten Tonn - , Department of Internal Medicine I (Author)
  • Nina Babel - , Ruhr University Bochum, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (Author)
  • Christian Hugo - , Department of Internal Medicine III (Author)

Abstract

Background: Dialysis and kidney transplant patients are vulnerable populations for COVID-19 related disease and mortality. Methods: We conducted a prospective study exploring the eight week time course of specific cellular (interferon-γ release assay and flow cytometry) or/and humoral immune responses (ELISA) to SARS-CoV-2 boost vaccination in more than 3100 participants including medical personnel, dialysis patients and kidney transplant recipients using mRNA vaccines BNT162b2 or mRNA-1273. Results: SARS-CoV-2-vaccination induced seroconversion efficacy in dialysis patients was similar to medical personnel (> 95%), but markedly impaired in kidney transplant recipients (42%). T-cellular immunity largely mimicked humoral results. Major risk factors of seroconversion failure were immunosuppressive drug number and type (belatacept, MMF-MPA, calcineurin-inhibitors) as well as vaccine type (BNT162b2 mRNA). Seroconversion rates induced by mRNA-1273 compared to BNT162b2 vaccine were 97% to 88% (p < 0.001) in dialysis and 49% to 26% in transplant patients, respectively. Specific IgG directed against the new binding domain of the spike protein (RDB) were significantly higher in dialysis patients vaccinated by mRNA-1273 (95%) compared to BNT162b2 (85%, p < 0.001). Vaccination appeared safe and highly effective demonstrating an almost complete lack of symptomatic COVID-19 disease after boost vaccination as well as ceased disease incidences during third pandemic wave in dialysis patients. Conclusion: Dialysis patients exhibit a remarkably high seroconversion rate of 95% after boost vaccination, while humoral response is impaired in the majority of transplant recipients. Immunosuppressive drug number and type as well as vaccine type (BNT162b2) are major determinants of seroconversion failure in both dialysis and transplant patients suggesting immune monitoring and adaption of vaccination protocols.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number100178
JournalThe Lancet Regional Health - Europe
Volume9
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2021
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

ORCID /0000-0003-2739-345X/work/142239600
ORCID /0000-0002-1507-8009/work/142241674

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

Keywords

  • BNT162b2, clinical decision-making, COVID-19, dialysis patients, epidemiology, guidelines, humoral and cellular immune response, kidney transplant recipients, medical personnel, mRNA-1273, SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, tozinameran