RESUMEN
Patients undergoing hemodialysis are known to exhibit low humoral responses to vaccines against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the humoral response to the third dose of BNT162b2 (Pfizer) in patients undergoing hemodialysis. We included 279 patients undergoing hemodialysis (69 ± 11 years, 65% male, median dialysis vintage: 69 months) and 189 healthcare workers (45 ± 13 years, 30% male) who received the third dose of BNT162b2. Anti-spike immunoglobulin G (anti-S IgG) antibody levels were measured 3−4.5 months after the second dose and 3 weeks after the third dose and were compared. Despite a significant difference in anti-S IgG antibody levels after the second dose between the two groups (patients: median 215 U/mL and healthcare workers: median 589 U/mL; p < 0.001), no significant difference in anti-S IgG antibody levels after the third dose was observed (patients: median 19,000 U/mL, healthcare workers: median 21,000 U/mL). Except for dialysis vintage (ρ = 0.209, p < 0.001), no other factors correlated with anti-S IgG antibody levels after the third vaccine dose in patients undergoing hemodialysis. Therefore, a favorable response to the third dose of BNT162b2 was observed in patients undergoing hemodialysis, irrespective of their backgrounds.
RESUMEN
BACKGROUND Calcification in arteries is sometimes observed in patients undergoing hemodialysis; however, ectopic calcification in other organs is uncommon. In particular, diffuse liver calcification is very rare. We report a case of rapidly developing diffuse liver calcification in a patient undergoing hemodialysis. CASE REPORT An 82-year-old woman started hemodialysis because of diabetic nephropathy, and her renal function worsened due to acute coronary syndrome. Percutaneous coronary intervention was conducted, and she was referred to our hospital. However, she subsequently contracted various infections, including a urinary tract infection and pneumonia. On day 43 of hospitalization, she developed septic shock and liver dysfunction due to catheter-induced infection. Although she did not have any medical history of liver disease, hypoperfusion of the liver resulted in liver dysfunction, and a computed tomography scan conducted 3 months later showed diffuse calcification in her liver. Despite recovering from septic shock, she ultimately died of multiple organ failure 21 months after admission to our hospital. CONCLUSIONS Diffuse liver calcification is extremely rare; however, it can be observed in patients undergoing hemodialysis who experience liver hypoperfusion. The precise mechanisms underlying this disorder remain unknown, but a critically ill status and specific characteristics of hemodialysis patients may play important roles in liver calcification.
