Humoral and T‐cell response to SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccination in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

ISNARDI, CAROLINA A; LANDI, MARGARITA; CRUCES, LEONEL; LONGUEIRA, YESICA; TURK, GABRIELA; QUIROGA, MARÍA F; LAUFER, NATALIA; MARÍA CELINA DE LA VEGA; CITERA, GUSTAVO; PONS-ESTEL, GUILLERMO J.; SCHNEEBERGER, EMILCE E

Arthritis Care & Research

American College of Rheumatology

Lugar: Atlanta; Año: 2023

2151-464X

ObjectiveTo assess the SARS-CoV-2-specific humoral and T-cell response after a two-dose regimen of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).MethodsIn this observational study, patients with RA, ≥18 years old, vaccinated for SARS-CoV-2 according to the Argentine National Health Ministry´s vaccination strategy were included. Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies (ELISA-COVIDAR test), neutralizing activity (cytotoxicity in VERO cells) and specific T-cell response (IFN-γ ELISpot Assay) were assessed after the first and second dose.ResultsA total of 120 RA patients were included. Mostly, homologous regimens were used, including Gam-COVID-Vac (27.5%), ChAdOx1 (24.2%) and BBIBP-CorV (22.5%). The most frequent combination was Gam-COVID-Vac/mRNA-1273 (21.7%). After the second dose 81.7% presented anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, 70.0% neutralizing activity and 65.3% specific T-cell response. The use of BBIBP-CorV, treatment with abatacept (ABA) and rituximab (RTX) were associated with undetectable antibodies and no neutralizing activity after two doses. BBIBP-CorV was also associated with the absence of T-cell response. The total incidence of adverse events was 357.1 events/1000 doses, significantly lower with BBIBP-CorV (166.7 events/1000 doses, p