Comparing humoral immune response to SARS-CoV2 vaccines in people with multiple sclerosis and healthy controls: An Austrian prospective multicenter cohort study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: SARS-CoV2 vaccination is recommended for patients with multiple sclerosis (pwMS), but response may be limited by disease-modifying-treatments (DMTs). The aim of this study was to compare the rates of humoral immune response and safety of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in pwMS and healthy controls (HCs). METHODS: In this multicenter prospective study on 456 pwMS and 116 HCs, SARS-CoV-2-IgG response was measured 3 months after the first vaccine dose. The primary endpoint was defined as proportion of patients developing antibodies (seroconversion). Secondary endpoints included antibody level, safety and efficacy. RESULTS: Compared to 97.4% in HCs, seroconversion occurred in 96.7% (88/91) untreated pwMS, 97.1% of patients (135/139) on immunomodulatory DMTs and 61.1% (138/226; p < 0.001) on immunosuppressive DMTs. Seroconversion was lowest in patients on antiCD20 monoclonal antibodies (CD20 mAbs; 52.6%) followed by sphingosine-1-phosphate-receptor-modulators (S1PMs; 63.6%). In the S1PM subgroup, seroconversion increased with lymphocyte count (odds ratio [OR] 1.31 per 0.1 G/L; p = 0.035). In pwMS on CD20 mAbs, B-cell depletion decreased seroconversion (OR 0.52; p = 0.038), whereas time since last DMT did not. Safety of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in pwMS was excellent. CONCLUSIONS: Humoral response to SARS-CoV2 vaccines in pwMS is generally excellent. While reduced by immunosuppressive DMTs, most importantly by B-cell-depleting CD20 mAbs and S1PMs, seroconversion is still expected in the majority of patients. SARS-CoV2 vaccination should be offered to every MS patient.

Humoral immune response to SARS-CoV-2 third vaccination in patients with multiple sclerosis and healthy controls: A prospective multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: Third vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 is recommended for patients with multiple sclerosis (pwMS), usually six months after the last vaccination. METHODS: In this prospective multicenter study on 292 pwMS and 46 healthy controls (HC), who had all received two vaccinations prior to study enrollment, SARS-CoV-2 IgG response was measured in the month before and 2-4 months after third vaccination. PwMS were categorized as follows: untreated (N-DMT, n = 32), receiving disease-modifying therapy (DMT) with expected humoral response (er-DMT: interferon-beta preparations, glatiramer acetate, dimethyl fumarate, teriflunomide, natalizumab, cladribine, alemtuzumab; n = 120) or no expected humoral response (nr-DMT: S1PMs, CD20mAb; n = 140). RESULTS: PwMS on nr-DMT had significantly lower median antibody levels before (12.1 U/ml [0.4-2500]) and after third vaccination (305 U/ml [0.4-2500]) in comparison to other groups (p<0.001). We did not find differences in antibody levels after homologous (n = 281; 2500 [0.4-2500]) and heterologous (n = 57; 2500 [0.4-2500]) vaccination regime regardless of the DMT group. The DMT group (ß= -0.60; 95% CI -1195.73, -799.10; p<0.001) was associated with antibody levels after third vaccination, while time to revaccination (6 months [1-13]) was not. After third vaccination, seropositivity was reached in 75.8% and 82.2% of pwMS on anti-CD20 mAbs and S1PMs, respectively. Complete B-cell depletion significantly decreased the probability of seroconversion even after the third vaccination (OR 0.14; p = 0.021), whereas time interval to last DMT intake and time to revaccination did not. Twenty-two patients reported a SARS-CoV-2 infection (3 N-DMT, 9 er-DMT, 10 nr-DMT), one being asymptomatic and the rest having a mild course. CONCLUSION: Humoral response to SARS-CoV-2 third vaccination in pwMS is excellent. While reduced by S1PMs and CD20mAb, protective response is still expected in the majority of patients.