ABSTRACT
Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is more frequent and severe in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) on maintenance haemodialysis (HD). Vaccines are now available, but the protective response rates and determinants of humoral response to the vaccine are poorly described. Methods: This prospective observational study describes the response rates of detectable and protective antibody titres 1 month after each dose of an mRNA vaccine in a cohort of 851 patients on maintenance HD. Findings: Among naïve SARS-CoV-2 patients, a vast majority produced detectable (95.2%) or protective levels of antibodies (69.6%) 1 month after the second vaccine dose. In addition, the response rate was significantly higher with the mRNA-1273 than with the BNT162b2 vaccine 1 month after the second dose (79.8 versus 59.1%, respectively; P < 0.001). The main determinants for an inadequate humoral response were older age, treatment with immunosuppressants or oral anticoagulants and low serum albumin. All the patients who encountered coronavirus disease 2019 before vaccination also reached a highly protective humoral response. Interpretation: We found an acceptable humoral response rate in patients on maintenance HD, much higher than in transplant recipients. Therefore the third dose of vaccine may be justified in those patients with an inadequate humoral response, particularly those with a history of organ transplantation or immunosuppressive treatment.
ABSTRACT
Background SARS-CoV-2 infection is more frequent and severe in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) on maintenance hemodialysis. Vaccines are now available, but the protective response rates and determinants of humoral response to the vaccine are poorly described. Methods This prospective observational study described the response rates of detectable and protective antibody titers one month after each dose of an mRNA vaccine in a cohort of 851 patients on maintenance hemodialysis. Findings Among naïve SARS-CoV2 patients, a vast majority produced detectable (95.2%) or protective levels of antibodies (69.6%) one month after the second vaccine dose. In addition, the response rate was significantly higher with the mRNA-1273 than with the BNT162b2 vaccine, one month after the second dose (79.8 vs 59.1%, respectively, p<0.001). The main determinants for an inadequate humoral response were older age, treatment with immunosuppressants or oral anticoagulants, and low serum albumin. All the patients who encountered Covid19 before vaccination also reached a highly protective humoral response. Interpretation We found an acceptable humoral response rate in patients on maintenance hemodialysis, much higher than in transplant recipients. Therefore, the third dose of vaccine may be justified in those patients with an inadequate humoral response, particularly those with a history of organ transplantation or immunosuppressive treatment.