Immunogenicity decay and case incidence six months post Sinovac-CoronaVac vaccine in autoimmune rheumatic diseases patients.

The determination of durability and vaccine-associated protection is essential for booster doses strategies, however data on the stability of SARS-CoV-2 immunity are scarce. Here we assess 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 patients compared with 207 age/sex-balanced control individuals. The primary outcome is the presence of anti-S1/S2 SARS-CoV-2 IgG at 6 months compared to 6 weeks after 2nd vaccine dose for decay evaluation. Secondary outcomes are presence of neutralizing antibodies, percent inhibition by neutralizing, geometric mean titers and cumulative incident cases at 6 months after 2nd dose. Anti-S1/S2 IgG positivity and titers reduce to 23.8% and 38% in patients (p < 0.001) during the six-month follow up and 20% and 51% in controls (p < 0.001), respectively. Neutralizing antibodies positivity and percent inhibition declines 41% and 54% in patients (p < 0.001) and 39.7% and 47% in controls (p < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis show males (OR = 0.56;95% CI0.40-0.79), prednisone (OR = 0.56; 95% CI0.41-0.76), anti-TNF (OR = 0.66;95% CI0.45-0.96), abatacept (OR = 0.29; 95% CI0.15-0.56) and rituximab (OR = 0.32;95% CI0.11-0.90) associate with a substantial reduction in IgG response at day 210 in patients. Although cellular immunity was not assessed, a decrease of COVID-19 cases (from 27.5 to 8.1/100 person-years; p < 0.001) is observed despite the concomitant emergence and spread of the Delta variant. Altogether we show a reduction in immunity 6-months of Sinovac-CoronaVac 2nd dose, particularly in males and those under immunosuppressives therapies, without a concomitant rise in COVID-19 cases. (CoronavRheum clinicaltrials.gov:NCT04754698).

2019-EULAR/ACR classification criteria domains at diagnosis: predictive factors of long-term damage in systemic lupus erythematosus.

The objective of this study is to assess the role of the 2019-European League Against Rheumatism/American College of Rheumatology (2019-EULAR/ACR) classification criteria at diagnosis and its domains in predicting long-term damage in systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE). We performed a retrospective analysis using an electronic chart database utilized in routine clinical care of SLE patients and established in 2000 in a tertiary hospital. Two hundred and nine consecutive SLE patients with disease onset ≥18 years old and long disease duration were included. Cumulative damage at the last visit was scored using the SLICC/ACR-Damage Index (SDI). The median age at SLE diagnosis was 28 years (18-63), disease duration was 14 years (8-25), and 88% were females. Damage (SDI≥1) was observed in 116/209 (55%). Patients with (SDI≥1, n=116) and without damage (SDI=0, n=93) had similar median disease duration [14 (8-25) vs. 12 (8-25) years, p=0.090] and age at diagnosis [23 (18-55) vs. 23 (18-56) years, p=0.998]. No correlation was observed between total 2019-EULAR/ACR score at diagnosis and SDI at last visit (r=0.007, p=0.913). Presence of renal domain at diagnosis was associated with renal damage at last visit (OR=3.6, 95%CI 1.2-10.4, p=0.017) and antiphospholipid antibodies domain predicted neuropsychiatric damage (OR=3.0, 95%CI 1.2-7.6, p=0.015). A ROC analysis identified that a cut-off >24 in 2019-EULAR/ACR score could predict a trend for renal damage (p=0.077) with a lower renal survival (Kaplan-Meier curve) for patients above this limit (p=0.029). A multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that 2019-EULAR/ACR score >24 at diagnosis (OR 4.583, 95%CI 1.052-19.962, p=0.043) was independently associated with renal damage. Specific domains in the 2019-EULAR/ACR criteria at diagnosis were associated with long-term organ-specific damage, particularly renal and neuropsychiatric harm. A 2019-EULAR/ACR score >24 predicted worse renal survival. Key Points • Presence of renal domain of the 2019-EULAR/ACR classification criteria at diagnosis was associated with long-term renal damage. • Presence of antiphospholipid antibodies domain at diagnosis was associated with long-term neuropsychiatric damage. • A 2019-EULAR/ACR overall score >24 at diagnosis was independently associated with renal damage and predicted worse renal long-term survival.