Immunosuppressive Therapy Did Not Diminish Cellular Immune Responses to COVID-19 Vaccines

Despite blunted antibody responses to COVID-19 mRNA vaccines, patients with B-cell depletion had robust T-cell responses.

The use of B-cell depletion with anti-CD20 agents for managing immune-mediated diseases results in diminished antibody responses to various vaccines, including those for COVID-19; but do such patients mount T-cell responses? Investigators measured serologic and cellular responses to COVID-19 mRNA vaccines in 37 adult patients receiving ocrelizumab for multiple sclerosis or rituximab for rheumatic diseases and 22 immunocompetent age-matched controls. In 92% of patients and 68% of controls there was no history or serologic evidence of previous COVID-19.

At 30 days after the second dose of vaccine, anti–receptor-binding domain antibodies were detected in all controls, 73% of rituximab patients, and 62% of ocrelizumab patients. Antibody levels c…

Reviewing Author

Hana M. El Sahly, MD

Disclosures

Grant/Research SupportNational Institutes of Health

Hana M. El Sahly, MD

Disclosures

Grant/Research SupportNational Institutes of Health

Immunosuppressive Therapy Did Not Diminish Cellular Immune Responses to COVID-19 Vaccines

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Reviewing Author