Antibody responses to the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in individuals with various inborn errors of immunity

Delmonte, Ottavia M.; Bergerson, Jenna R.E.; Burbelo, Peter D.; Durkee-Shock, Jessica R.; Dobbs, Kerry; Bosticardo, Marita; Keller, Michael D.; McDermott, David H.; Rao, V. Koneti; Dimitrova, Dimana; Quiros-Roldan, Eugenia; Imberti, Luisa; Ferrè, Elise M.N.; Schmitt, Monica; Lafeer, Christine; Pfister, Justina; Shaw, Dawn; Draper, Deborah; Truong, Meng; Ulrick, Jean; DiMaggio, Tom; Urban, Amanda; Holland, Steven M.; Lionakis, Michail S.; Cohen, Jeffrey I.; Ricotta, Emily E.; Notarangelo, Luigi D.; Freeman, Alexandra F.

BACKGROUND: SARS-CoV-2 vaccination is recommended in patients with inborn errors of immunity (IEIs); however, little is known about immunogenicity and safety in these patients. OBJECTIVE: We sought to evaluate the impact of genetic diagnosis, age, and treatment on antibody response to COVID-19 vaccine and related adverse events in a cohort of patients with IEIs. METHODS: Plasma was collected from 22 health care worker controls, 81 patients with IEIs, and 2 patients with thymoma; the plasma was collected before immunization, 1 to 6 days before the second dose of mRNA vaccine, and at a median of 30 days after completion of the immunization schedule with either mRNA vaccine or a single dose of Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine. Anti-spike (anti-S) and anti-nucleocapsid antibody titers were measured by using a luciferase immunoprecipitation systems method. Information on T- and B-cell counts and use of immunosuppressive drugs was extracted from medical records, and information on vaccine-associated adverse events was collected after each dose. RESULTS: Anti-S antibodies were detected in 27 of 46 patients (58.7%) after 1 dose of mRNA vaccine and in 63 of 74 fully immunized patients (85.1%). A lower rate of seroconversion (7 of 11 [63.6%]) was observed in patients with autoimmune polyendocrinopathy–candidiasis–ectodermal dystrophy. Previous use of rituximab and baseline counts of less than 1000 CD3(+) T cells/mL and less than 100 CD19(+) B cells/mL were associated with lower anti-S IgG levels. No significant adverse events were reported. CONCLUSION: Vaccinating patients with IEIs is safe, but immunogenicity is affected by certain therapies and gene defects. These data may guide the counseling of patients with IEIs regarding prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection and the need for subsequent boosts.