Humoral immune response to COVID-19 vaccination in psoriasis patients on biologic therapy is impaired compared to healthy controls

ABSTRACT

Different vaccines have been developed to counteract the SARS-CoV2 pandemic. A competent immune system is a prerequisite for the development of appropriate immune protection after vaccination. Therapy with biologics for psoriasis patients, however, aims to suppress certain immune responses in the skin thus interfering with the inflammatory cascade. The purpose of this study was to investigate the measurable immune response of psoriasis patients receiving biologic therapy differs from healthy controls not receiving biologic treatment. Therefore, we collected blood samples within a fixed time frame (4 to 8 weeks) after complete two times vaccination against COVID19. We examined IgG and IgA antibody titer via ELISA analysis. The psoriatic group comprised persons under treatment with IL-17 inhibitors, IL-23 inhibitors and TNF alpha inhibitors. There was no significant difference between the psoriatic patients and control subjects concerning the time span between vaccination and blood sampling. The results showed significantly lower anti-COVID19 IgG antibody titers lower in patients under biologic treatment compared to the healthy control group without treatment. These results may help to adjust recommendations for future vaccinations in vulnerable immune suppressed patients.Copyright © 2023