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Meta-Analysis
. 2022 Sep 21;18(15):5849-5857.
doi: 10.7150/ijbs.77030. eCollection 2022.

Humoral Immunogenicity to SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination in Liver Transplant Recipients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Jeong-Ju Yoo  1 , Dong Keon Yon  2 , Seung Won Lee  3   4 , Jae Il Shin  5 , Beom Kyung Kim  6   7   8
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Humoral Immunogenicity to SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination in Liver Transplant Recipients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Jeong-Ju Yoo et al. Int J Biol Sci. .

Abstract

Solid organ transplant recipients generally show reduced immunogenicity to various vaccines. We aimed to assess the immunogenicity of the immune response among orthotopic liver transplant (OLT) recipients after the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccination. A systematic search was performed to evaluate immunogenicity or adverse events reported after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. The pooled analysis of 20 studies showed a humoral immune response rate of 0.70 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.63-0.77) after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination among OLT recipients. The immunogenicity among OLT recipients was significantly lower compared to the overall population and healthy controls, with odds ratios (ORs) of 0.80 and 0.69. However, it was significantly higher than that of patients receiving other organ transplants, especially kidneys, with an OR of 1.50. Male sex, old age, chronic kidney disease, obesity, and multiple or high immunosuppressant doses significantly increased the risk of unresponsiveness in patients with OLT. The overall incidence of any adverse event after vaccination was 0.68 (95% CI, 0.55-0.81), similar to that of control. OLT recipients had an overall humoral immune response rate of 70% after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, which is lower than that of healthy controls but favourable compared to those of other solid organ transplant recipients.

Keywords: Meta-analysis; SARS-CoV-2; immunogenicity; liver transplant; vaccine.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interest exists.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Forest plots of immunogenicity rates. (A) Pooled immunogenicity rate. (B) Comparison of liver transplantation recipient and control groups.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Forest plots of all adverse events reported after coronavirus disease 2019 vaccine administration.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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