Humoral response to viral vector COVID-19 vaccine in hemodialysis patients

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine is not readily available in many countries where dosing interval is spaced more than ideal. Patients with chronic kidney disease, especially those on maintenance hemodialysis, have a tendency for a reduced immune response. This study was undertaken to demonstrate the distinct humoral immune response to the viral vector COVID-19 vaccine in patients with kidney failure receiving maintenance hemodialysis. Methods: The study was carried out with two cohorts: 1) patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis and 2) healthcare workers from the same dialysis center as controls, each group with 72 subjects. Participants received a dose of Covishield ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 coronavirus vaccine. The humoral immunological response was determined using electrochemiluminescence immunoassay which quantitatively measures antibodies to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 spike protein receptor-binding domain. Results: All study subjects in the control group developed a humoral response (antibody titer of ≥0.8 U/mL), while only 64 of 72 in the dialysis group (88.9%) were responders. Age (ρ = –0.234, p = 0.04) and sodium level (ρ = 0.237, p = 0.04) correlated with low antibody titer in bivariate analysis. In multivariate analysis, only age (odds ratio, 1.10; 95% confidence interval, 1.01–1.22; p = 0.045) was associated with nonresponders. Conclusion: Our study demonstrated a weak antibody response of hemodialysis patients to the viral vector COVID-19 vaccine. Older age was associated with nonresponders. Evaluation of both humoral and cellular immunity after the second vaccine dose and serial antibody titers can help determine the need for booster shots.

Isolated renal involvement of cytomegalovirus inclusion disease in an infant.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the most common cause of congenital infections in humans occurring in 1% of all liveborns. Symptomatic congenital CMV infection involves multiple systems and causes significant morbidity and mortality in newborns. Isolated CMV infection of the kidneys in a living infant has not been reported in literature. Here, we report an infant who presented only with renomegaly and renal biopsy showed extensive CMV inclusions. Serum and urine polymerase chain reaction for CMV were positive, and CMV involvement of other organs was ruled out. The child for treated with intravenous ganciclovir and is currently on follow-up. Cytomegalic inclusion disease involving only kidneys without other systems involvement can occur. The treatment protocol is unclear and long-term follow-up is needed.

Hemodialysis: a therapeutic option for severe attacks of acute intermittent porphyria in developing countries.

Acute intermittent prophyria (AIP) is an autosomal dominant disease that results from a defect in the enzyme porphobilinogen deaminase. Acute intermittent porphyria is the most common of hepatic porphyrias and can tax the therapeutic capabilities of the physician to the limit. Motor weakness is a major feature of an acute attack, and flaccid paralysis of all extremities can occur rapidly, within a matter of days. The acute attacks may be life threatening. Hematin (Heme Arginate) should be given early during an acute attack to prevent neurologic sequel. Hemodialysis and hemoperfusion have been tried in the treatment of acute attacks of AIP with success. As hematin is not available in India, a severe acute attack of AIP in a patient was managed with hemodialysis successfully. Later, hematin was imported and provided to the patient. An 18-year-old girl was admitted to our hospital with recurrent abdominal pain and 2 episodes of convulsions. She had undergone an appendectomy earlier at another hospital for abdominal pain. On evaluation, she had hyponatremia, episodic abnormal behavior, generalized muscle pain, hypertension, and sinus tachycardia. In view of the above clinical picture, a clinical diagnosis of acute intermittent porphyria was made. Her 24-hr urinary porphobilinogen was 90.8 mg/day (<2 mg-normal) and alpha amino levalunic acid was 108.8 mg/day (1-7 mg-normal), consistent with the diagnosis. Her hyponatremia was corrected. Arrangements were made to import hematin and she was managed with dextrose infusion. Meanwhile, she developed flaccid quardriparesis with urinary incontinence and bulbar palsy. Her brain MRI was normal. Her nerve conduction study was suggestive of motor radiculoneuropathy. Specific treatment for severe porphyric crisis was planned. She failed to improve with dextrose infusion alone. As hematin was not readily available in the country, other therapeutic options were considered. As few case reports of AIP being successfully treated with hemodialysis were available, the option of dialytic support was explained to the family. After procuring informed consent, she was subjected to hemodialysis for 4 hr in the first day, increasing to 6 hr a day for the next 6 days. Her abdominal pain and myalgia subsided on the third day of dialysis. Her lower limb muscle power improved and she became ambulant by the fourth day. Urinary retention improved within 4 days. Hematin was imported by then from the United States. Later, 2 doses of hematin (4 mg/kg-160 mg in 20% albumin) were given via a central vein. She was maintained on physiotherapy. Repeat nerve conduction study revealed recovery. She has been provided with a list of drugs that have to be avoided. Currently, she is on outpatient follow-up with occasional abdominal pain, which subsides with intravenous dextrose therapy.