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Patients With Asthma and Atopic Dermatitis Show Reduced SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Response
Compared to healthy adults, patients with severe asthma or atopic dermatitis on biologic therapies have lower antibody levels after SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination, according to study findings presented at the 2022 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology Annual Meeting in Phoenix, AZ.
From February 2021 to September 2021, a prospective observational trial was conducted for which researchers recruited adults with severe asthma or atopic dermatitis treated with dupilumab, mepolizumab, or benralizumab also receiving SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination. Patients with significant immunosuppression or prior COVID-19 infection were excluded from the study.
According to study authors, 74 patients and 39 healthy controls submitted blood samples that were analyzed for SARS-CoV-2 antigen reactivities using a multiplex Luminex assay.
“Patients treated with biologic therapies had lower IgG levels to the SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain compared to healthy adults 30 days after the second vaccination,” state study authors. “Ninety days after the second vaccination, IgG levels for patients on biologic therapies remained significantly lower compared to healthy adults (average median fluorescence intensity 66,437 and 100,519, respectively; P = .0276).”
Findings showed similar results were seen for Spike protein S1 titers and the Delta variant. Study authors noted that it’s unclear whether the differences between healthy adults and patients with severe asthma or atopic dermatitis are due to confounding factors or biologic therapies.
“Nevertheless, as there is evidence that lower vaccine-specific titers afford less protection against COVID-19, clinicians should consider a booster vaccination in these patients as they may unknowingly remain at high risk for severe disease,” concluded study authors.
Reference:
Runnstrom M, Morrison-Porter A, Ravindran M, et al. Reduced SARS-CoV-2 vaccine response in patients treated with biologic therapies for asthma and atopic dermatitis. Presented at: 2022 AAAAI Annual Meeting; February 25-28, 2022; Phoenix, AZ.
