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Meta-Analysis
. 2022 Apr 12;6(7):2014-2034.
doi: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2021006333.

Immunogenicity of COVID-19 vaccines in patients with hematologic malignancies: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Joanne S K Teh  1   2 , Julien Coussement  1   2 , Zoe C F Neoh  1   2 , Tim Spelman  3 , Smaro Lazarakis  4 , Monica A Slavin  1   2   5   6 , Benjamin W Teh  1   2   5
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Immunogenicity of COVID-19 vaccines in patients with hematologic malignancies: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Joanne S K Teh et al. Blood Adv. .

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to assess the immunogenicity and safety of COVID-19 vaccines in patients with hematologic malignancies. A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical studies of immune responses to COVID-19 vaccination stratified by underlying malignancy and published from January 1, 2021, to August 31, 2021, was conducted using MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane CENTRAL. Primary outcome was the rate of seropositivity after 2 doses of COVID-19 vaccine with rates of seropositivity after 1 dose, rates of positive neutralizing antibodies, cellular responses, and adverse events as secondary outcomes. Rates were pooled from single-arm studies while rates of seropositivity were compared against the rate in healthy controls for comparator studies using a random effects model and expressed as a pooled odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals. Forty-four studies (16 mixed group, 28 disease specific) with 7064 patients were included in the analysis (2331 after first dose, 4733 after second dose). Overall seropositivity rates were 62% to 66% after 2 doses of COVID-19 vaccine and 37% to 51% after 1 dose. The lowest seropositivity rate was 51% in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia and was highest in patients with acute leukemia (93%). After 2 doses, neutralizing antibody response rates were 57% to 60%, and cellular response rates were 40% to 75%. Active treatment, ongoing or recent treatment with targeted and CD-20 monoclonal antibody therapies within 12 months were associated with poor immune responses to COVID-19 vaccine. New approaches to prevention are urgently required to reduce COVID-19 infection morbidity and mortality in high-risk patient groups that respond poorly to COVID-19 vaccination.

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Figures

None
Graphical abstract
Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Flow diagram of studies identified, screened, and included.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
OR for achieving seropositivity in patients with hematologic malignancies vs healthy control group after 2 doses (A) and 1 dose of COVID-19 vaccine (B).
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
OR for achieving seropositivity in patients with hematologic malignancies vs healthy control group after 2 doses (A) and 1 dose of COVID-19 vaccine (B).
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Pooled rates of seropositivity in single-arm studies involving patients with hematologic malignancies after 2 doses (A) and 1 dose of COVID-19 vaccine (B).
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Pooled rates of seropositivity in single-arm studies involving patients with hematologic malignancies after 2 doses (A) and 1 dose of COVID-19 vaccine (B).
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Pooled rates of seropositivity in single-arm studies involving patients with hematologic malignancies after 2 doses (A) and 1 dose of COVID-19 vaccine (B).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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