Clinical and humoral response after SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infection in patients receiving immunosuppressant therapy

Eileen W. Stalman*, Luuk Wieske, Jim B.D. Keijser, the T2B! Immunity against SARS-CoV-2 study group, Koos P.J. van Dam, Laura Y.L. Kummer, Maarten F. Wilbrink, Zoé L.E. van Kempen, Joep Killestein, Adriaan G. Volkers, Sander W. Tas, Laura Boekel, Gerrit J. Wolbink, Anneke J. van der Kooi, Joost Raaphorst, Mark Löwenberg, R. Bart Takkenberg, Geert R.A.M. D'Haens, Phyllis I. Spuls, Marcel W. BekkenkAnnelie H. Musters, Nicoline F. Post, Angela L. Bosma, Marc L. Hilhorst, Yosta Vegting, Frederique J. Bemelman, Alexandre E. Voskuyl, Bo Broens, Agner Parra Sanchez, Cécile A.C.M. van Els, Jelle de Wit, Abraham Rutgers, Karina de Leeuw, Barbara Horváth, Jan J.G.M. Verschuuren, Annabel M. Ruiter, Lotte van Ouwerkerk, Diane van der Woude, Renée C.F. Allaart, Y. K. Onno Teng, Pieter van Paassen, Matthias H. Busch, Esther Brusse, Pieter A. van Doorn, Adája E. Baars, Dirkjan Hijnen, Corine R.G. Schreurs, W. Ludo van der Pol, H. Stephan Goedee, Olvi Cristianawati, Marcel Jonges

*Corresponding author for this work

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Abstract

Background: Despite impaired humoral response in patients treated with immunosuppressants (ISPs), recent studies found similar severity of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) breakthrough infection compared to controls. One potential explanation is the rapid generation of humoral response on infection, but evidence is lacking. Objectives: We investigated the longitudinal dynamics of the SARS-CoV-2 antibody repertoire after SARS-CoV-2 delta and omicron breakthrough infection in patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) receiving ISP therapy and controls. Methods: As a prospective substudy of the national Target-to-B! (T2B!) consortium, we included IMID patients receiving ISPs therapy and controls who reported SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infection between July 1, 2021, and April 1, 2022. To get an impression of the dynamics of the antibody repertoire, 3 antibody titers of wild-type RBD, wild-type S, and omicron RBD were measured at 4 time points after SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infection. Results: We included 302 IMID patients receiving ISPs and 178 controls. Antibody titers increased up to 28 days after breakthrough infection in both groups. However, in IMID patients receiving therapy with anti-CD20 and sphingosine-1 phosphate receptor modulators, antibody titers were considerably lower compared to controls. In the anti-TNF group, we observed slightly lower antibody titers in the early stages and a faster decline of antibodies after infection compared to controls. Breakthrough infections were mostly mild, and hospitalization was required in less than 1% of cases. Conclusions: Most ISPs do not influence the dynamics of the SARS-CoV-2 antibody repertoire and exhibit a rapid recall response with cross-reactive antibody clones toward new virus variants. However, in patients treated with anti-CD20 therapy or sphingosine-1 phosphate receptor modulators, the dynamics were greatly impaired, and to a lesser extent in those who received anti-TNF. Nevertheless, only a few severe breakthrough cases were reported.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)754-766.e7
JournalJournal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
Volume154
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2024

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