Clinical and humoral response after SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infection in patients receiving immunosuppressant therapy

Eileen W Stalman*, Luuk Wieske, Jim B D Keijser, Koos P J van Dam, Laura Y L Kummer, Maarten F Wilbrink, Zoé L E van Kempen, Joep Killestein, Adriaan G Volkers, Sander W Tas, Laura Boekel, Gerrit J Wolbink, Anneke J van der Kooi, Joost Raaphorst, Mark Löwenberg, R Bart Takkenberg, Geert R A M D'Haens, Phyllis I Spuls, Marcel W Bekkenk, Annelie H MustersNicoline F Post, Angela L Bosma, Marc L Hilhorst, Yosta Vegting, Frederique J Bemelman, Alexandre E Voskuyl, Bo Broens, Agner Parra Sanchez, Cécile A C M van Els, Jelle de Wit, Abraham Rutgers, Karina de Leeuw, Barbara Horváth, Jan J G M Verschuuren, Annabel M Ruiter, Lotte van Ouwerkerk, Diane van der Woude, Renée C F Allaart, Y K Onno Teng, Pieter van Paassen, Matthias H Busch, Esther Brusse, Pieter A van Doorn, Adája E Baars, Dirkjan Hijnen, Corine R G Schreurs, W Ludo van der Pol, H Stephan Goedee, Maurice Steenhuis, Sofie Keijzer, T2B! immunity against SARS-CoV-2 study group

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Background: Despite impaired humoral response in patients treated with immunosuppressants (ISPs), recent studies found similar severity of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) breakthrough infection compared to controls. One potential explanation is the rapid generation of humoral response on infection, but evidence is lacking. Objectives: We investigated the longitudinal dynamics of the SARS-CoV-2 antibody repertoire after SARS-CoV-2 delta and omicron breakthrough infection in patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) receiving ISP therapy and controls. Methods: As a prospective substudy of the national Target-to-B! (T2B!) consortium, we included IMID patients receiving ISPs therapy and controls who reported SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infection between July 1, 2021, and April 1, 2022. To get an impression of the dynamics of the antibody repertoire, 3 antibody titers of wild-type RBD, wild-type S, and omicron RBD were measured at 4 time points after SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infection. Results: We included 302 IMID patients receiving ISPs and 178 controls. Antibody titers increased up to 28 days after breakthrough infection in both groups. However, in IMID patients receiving therapy with anti-CD20 and sphingosine-1 phosphate receptor modulators, antibody titers were considerably lower compared to controls. In the anti-TNF group, we observed slightly lower antibody titers in the early stages and a faster decline of antibodies after infection compared to controls. Breakthrough infections were mostly mild, and hospitalization was required in less than 1% of cases. Conclusions: Most ISPs do not influence the dynamics of the SARS-CoV-2 antibody repertoire and exhibit a rapid recall response with cross-reactive antibody clones toward new virus variants. However, in patients treated with anti-CD20 therapy or sphingosine-1 phosphate receptor modulators, the dynamics were greatly impaired, and to a lesser extent in those who received anti-TNF. Nevertheless, only a few severe breakthrough cases were reported.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)754-766.e7
JournalJournal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
Volume154
Issue number3
Early online date17 May 2024
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2024

Keywords

  • Auto-immune disease
  • Breakthrough infections
  • Humoral responses
  • Immunosuppressants
  • SARS-CoV-2

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