Effect of an Exercise Bout Prior to the Booster Dose of an Inactivated SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine on Immunogenicity in Immunocompromised Patients (preprint)

This study aimed to investigate whether a single bout of exercise prior to the homologous booster dose of a SARS-CoV-2 inactivated vaccine (Sinovac-CoronaVac) could enhance immunogenicity in patients with dysfunctional immune system. This was a randomized controlled trial (1:1) within a single-arm, phase 4 vaccination trial, conducted in São Paulo, Brazil. Patients with spondyloarthritis assigned to the intervention group performed an exercise bout comprising three unilateral strength exercises involving eccentric and concentric contractions. After exercising, patients remained at rest for 1 h prior to vaccination, which was applied to the exercised arm. The control group remained at rest before vaccination. Immunogenicity was assessed before (Pre) and one month after (Post) the booster dose using seropositivity rates of total anti-SARS-CoV-2 S1/S2 IgG, geometric mean titers of anti-S1/S2 IgG (GMT), frequency of NAb positivity, and NAb activity. Before the booster dose, 16 patients from the exercise group and 16 patients from the control group exhibited seropositivity for IgG (59% vs. 57.1%), one month after the booster dose, seropositivity occurred in 96% vs. 100% of the cases (p = 0.84, group by time interaction). Only 10 patients from the exercise group and 12 patients from the control group showed positive NAb serology at Pre (37% vs. 42.8%). One month following the booster, NAb positivity was 96% vs. 93% (p = 0.41, group-by-time interaction). GMT was comparable between groups at Pre (p > 0.05). At Post, GMT increased similarly in both groups (exercise: 56.9%; control: 57.9%), with no group-by-time interaction (p = 0.82; estimated mean difference between groups at Post [EMD]: -40.4 UA/mL, 95%CI: -327, 246 UA/mL). Likewise, NAb activity was similar between groups at Pre and increased similarly in both of them as a result of the booster (47.5% vs. 39.9%), with no group-by-time interaction (p = 0.99; EMD: -6.19%, 95%CI: -17; 4.6%). In conclusion, a single bout of exercise did not enhance immunogenicity to a homologous booster dose of an inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine among patients with spondyloarthritis. Studies assessing exercise as an adjuvant to first or second doses remain necessary.

Physical Activity Associates with Greater Antibody Persistence through 6 Months after the Second Dose of CoronaVac in Patients with Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases (preprint)

This study aimed to investigate the association between physical activity and persistent anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies 6 months after two-dose schedule of CoronaVac in autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARD) patients. This was a prospective cohort study within an open-label, single-arm, phase 4 vaccination trial (clinicaltrials.gov #NCT04754698), conducted at a tertiary referral hospital in Sao Paulo, Brazil. ARD patients aged ≥18 underwent a two-dose schedule of CoronaVac (Sinovac Life Sciences, China). Persistent immunogenicity 6 months after the full-course vaccination was assessed using seroconversion rates of total anti-SARS-CoV-2 S1/S2 IgG, geometric mean titers of anti-S1/S2 IgG (GMT), and frequency of positive neutralizing antibodies (NAb). Physical activity was assessed trough questionnaire (active being defined as ≥150 min/week of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity). Physically active (n=421) and inactive (n=327) ARD patients were similar for most characteristics; however, active patients were significantly younger ( p <0.001), had less chronic inflammatory arthritis ( p <0.001) and less frequently used biologic agents ( p <0.001) than inactive ones. Six months after full-course vaccination, being male ( p <0.001), use of prednisone ( p <0.01) and biologics ( p <0.001) were associated with poor immunogenicity, while being physically active was associated with better humoral response ( p <0.01). Adjusted point estimates from logistic regression models indicated greater odds of seroconversion rates (OR: 1.5 [95%CI: 1.1 to 2.1]) and NAb positivity (OR: 1.5 [95%CI: 1.0 to 2.1]) in physically active patients and approximately 43% greater GMT (42.8% [95%CI: 11.9 to 82.2]) than inactive ones. In conclusion, among immunocompromised patients, being physically active was associated with an increment in antibody persistence through 6 months after a full-course of an inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine.

A RANDOMIZED CLINICAL TRIAL OF 2-WEEK METHOTREXATE DISCONTINUATION IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS PATIENTS VACCINATED WITH INACTIVATED SARS-COV-2 VACCINE (preprint)

Objectives To evaluate the effect on immunogenicity and safety of 2-week methotrexate(MTX) discontinuation after each dose of the Sinovac-CoronaVac vaccine versus MTX maintenance in rheumatoid arthritis(RA) patients. Methods This was a single-center, prospective, randomized, investigator-blinded, intervention study (# NCT04754698 , CoronavRheum), including adult RA patients(stable CDAI<10, prednisone<7.5mg/day), randomized(1:1) to withdraw MTX(MTX-hold) for 2 weeks after each vaccine dose or maintain MTX(MTX-maintain), evaluated at D0, D28 and D69. Co-primary outcomes were anti-SARS-CoV-2 S1/S2 IgG seroconversion(SC) and neutralizing antibody(NAb) positivity at D69. Secondary outcomes were GMT and changes in disease activity scores. For immunogenicity analyses, we excluded patients with baseline positive IgG/NAb, and, for safety reasons, those unable to hold MTX twice(CDAI>10 at D28). Results Randomization included 138 patients with 9 exclusions(5 COVID-19, 4 protocol violations). Safety evaluation included 60(MTX-hold) and 69(MTX-maintain) patients. Further exclusions consisted of 27 patients[13(21.7%) vs. 14(20.3%),p=0.848] with positive baseline IgG/NAb and 10 patients(21.3%) in MTX-hold with CDAI>10 at D28. At D69, a higher increase in SC[29(78.4%) vs 30(54.5%),p=0.019] was observed in MTX-hold(n=37) in comparison to MTX-maintain(n=55), with parallel augmentation in GMT[34.2(25.2-46.4) vs 16.8(11.9-23.6),p=0.006]. No differences were observed for NAb positivity[23(62.2%) vs 27(49.1%),p=0.217]. Longitudinal variations in disease activity scores were alike in both groups(CDAI,p=0.144; DAS28-CRP,p=0.718). Conclusion We provided novel data that 2-week MTX withdrawal after each vaccine dose improves anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunogenicity. The comparable longitudinal variations of disease activity in both groups suggest that discontinuation is a feasible and efficient strategy in well-controlled RA patients, and may be even safer for vaccines with longer interval between doses or single dose schedules. Funding FAPESP/CNPq/B3-Bolsa de Valores-Brasil.

Anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunogenicity decay and incident cases six months after Sinovac-CoronaVac inactivated vaccine in autoimmune rheumatic diseases patients: phase 4 prospective trial (preprint)

We provide novel data on anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunogenicity decay and incident cases six months after the 2nd dose of Sinovac-CoronaVac inactivated vaccine(D210) in 828 autoimmune rheumatic diseases(ARD) patients compared with 223 age/sex-balanced control group(CG). From D69 to D210, anti-S1/S2IgG positivity and GMT reduced 23.8% and 38% in ARD(p<0.001/p<0.001) and 20% and 51% in CG(p<0.001/p<0.001). From D69 to D210 NAb positivity and activity declined 41% and 54% in ARD(p<0.001/p<0.001) and 39.7% and 47% in CG(p<0.001/p<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that male(OR=0.56;95%CI0.40-0.79;p<0.001), prednisone(OR=0.56; 95%CI0.41-0.76;p<0.001), anti-TNF(OR=0.66;95%CI0.45-0.96;p=0.031), abatacept(OR=0.29; 95%CI0.15-0.56;p<0.001) and rituximab(OR=0.32;95%CI0.11-0.90;p=0.031) use were associated with a substantial reduction on IgG response at D210 in ARD patients. A decrease of COVID-19 cases(from 27.5 to 8.1/100 person-years;p<0.001) occurred during the study despite the Delta variant spread. In conclusion, after 6-months of Sinovac-CoronaVac 2nd dose, immunogenicity of ARD patients was markedly reduced, particularly in males and those under prednisone/biological therapies, without a concomitant rise in COVID-19 cases(NCT04754698).

Physical activity associates with enhanced immunogenicity of an inactivated virus vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 in patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases (preprint)

Immunocompromised individuals show lower vaccine immunogenicity, which may be modulated by physical activity. This prospective cohort study within a phase-4 vaccination trial investigated whether physical activity is associated with enhanced immunogenicity of Coronavac (SARS-CoV-2 inactivated vaccine) in patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARD) (n=898) and non-ARD (n=197) individuals without pre-existing immunogenicity to SARS-CoV-2 after receiving a two-dose vaccine schedule. Seroconversion rates of total anti-SARS-CoV-2 S1/S2 IgG (SC), geometric mean titers of anti-S1/S2 IgG (GMT), factor-increase in GMT (FI-GMT), frequency of neutralizing antibody (NAb), and median neutralizing activity were assessed. After controlling for covariates, active patients (≥150 min/week) exhibited greater SC (OR: 1.4 [95%CI: 1.1-2.0]), GMT (32% [95%CI: 8.8-60) and FI-GMT (33% [95%CI: 9.6-63%]) vs. inactive. Cluster analysis (physical activity/sedentary status) revealed greater GMT (43.0% [95% CI: 11.0-84.0%) and FI-GMT (48.0% [95%CI: 14.0-92.0%]) in active/non-sedentary (≥150 min/week/<8h/day) vs. inactive/sedentary (<150 min/week/>8h/day) ARD. A dose-response was observed, with greater benefits for ≥350 min/week of physical activity (OR: 1.6 [95%CI: 1.1-2.4]; 41% [95%CI: 10-80%]; 35% [95%CI: 4.3-74], for SC, GMT, and FI-GMT, respectively). Greater SC (OR: 9.9 [95%CI: 1.1-89.0]) and GMT (26% [95%CI: 2.2-56.0%]) were observed in active vs. inactive non-ARD. A physically active lifestyle may enhance SARS-CoV-2 vaccine immunogenicity, a finding of particular clinical relevance for immunocompromised individuals.

Immunogenicity and safety of an inactivated virus vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 in patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases (preprint)

CoronaVac(SARS-CoV-2 inactivated vaccine) has been largely used as the main immunogen for COVID-19 in several countries. However, its immunogenicity in immunocompromised individuals has not been established. This was a prospective controlled study of 910 adult ARD patients and 182 age- and sex-matched control group(CG) who received two doses of CoronaVac in a 28-days interrval. Anti-SARS-Cov-2 IgG and neutralizing antibodies were assessed at each vaccine shot and 6 weeks after the 2nd dose. Vaccine adverse events(AE) were similar in both groups. We observed significant lower anti-SARS-Cov-2 IgG seroconversion(70.4% vs. 95.5%,p < 0.001) and titers[12.1(95%CI 11.0-13.2) vs. 29.7(95%CI 26.3–33.5),p < 0.001], frequency of neutralizing antibodies(56.3% vs. 79.3%),p < 0.001) and median (interquartile range) neutralization activity [58.7(43.1–77.2) vs. 64.5(48.4–81.4),p = 0.013] in ARD patients compared to CG. A significant decline in the number of COVID-19 cases (p < 0.0001) were observed 10 days after the second dose, with a predominant P1 variant. Safety analysis revealed no moderate/severe AEs. In conclusion, CoronaVac has an excellent safety profile and reasonable rates of quantitative serology(70.4%)/neutralization(56.3%) in ARD patients. The impact of this reduced immunogenicity in vaccine effectiveness warrants further evaluation.