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. 2023 Feb 1;35(2):167-173.
doi: 10.1097/MEG.0000000000002484. Epub 2022 Nov 29.

Humoral immunogenicity of COVID-19 vaccines in patients with coeliac disease and other noncoeliac enteropathies compared to healthy controls

Davide Scalvini  1   2 , Annalisa Schiepatti  1   2 , Stiliano Maimaris  1   2 , Emanuele Cosentini  1   2 , Roberta Muscia  1   2 , Virginia Gregorio  1   2 , Elisa Roda  3 , Federico Fassio  4 , Paola Baiardi  5 , Carlo Alessandro Locatelli  3 , Federico Biagi  1   2
Affiliations

Humoral immunogenicity of COVID-19 vaccines in patients with coeliac disease and other noncoeliac enteropathies compared to healthy controls

Davide Scalvini et al. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. .

Abstract

Objectives: Data are lacking on the immunogenicity of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccines in patients affected by coeliac disease, Whipple's disease and other noncoeliac enteropathies (NCE), characterised by primary or drug-related immunosuppression. We aimed to assess humoral response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in these patients compared to controls.

Methods: Between December 2021 and January 2022, IgG anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike protein antibodies were measured in serum samples of coeliac disease, Whipple's disease and NCE patients attending our gastroenterology outpatient clinic for follow-up, who had received their first SARS-CoV-2 vaccination dose 3-6-9 (±1) months prior. Humoral response was compared with healthy controls (vaccinated healthcare workers undergoing serological screening), matched for gender, age, and time from first vaccine dose at sample collection.

Results: A total of 120 patients [107 coeliac disease; 10 Whipple's disease; 2 common-variable immunodeficiency (CVID); 1 idiopathic villous atrophy; 77 F, 42 ± 16 years] and 240 matched controls (154 F, 43 ± 14 years) were enrolled. At 3, 6 and 9 months, humoral response in coeliac patients was not impaired compared to controls. Inadequate humoral response to vaccination was significantly more common among Whipple's disease patients than controls ( P < 0.001). Patients on immunosuppressive therapy had markedly lower IgG anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody titres (median 14 vs. 520 BAU/mL, P < 0.001). As expected, patients with CVID showed no humoral response to vaccination.

Conclusions: Humoral immunogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines was not reduced in coeliac disease patients compared to controls, although it was in Whipple's disease and CVID patients. Post-vaccination humoral response should be monitored in patients with Whipple's disease and chronic enteropathies on immunosuppressive therapy in order to schedule vaccine booster doses.

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