Do Corticosteroid Injections for the Treatment of Pain Influence the Efficacy of mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines?

Effect of Corticosteroid on Immunogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 Vaccines in Patients With Solid Cancer

PURPOSE

Corticosteroids are known to diminish immune response ability, which is generally used in routine premedication for chemotherapy. The intersecting of timeframe between the corticosteroid's duration of action and peak COVID-19 vaccine efficacy could impair vaccine immunogenicity. Thus, inquiring about corticosteroids affecting the efficacy of vaccines to promote effective immunity in this population is needed.

METHODS

This was a prospective longitudinal observational cohort study that enrolled patients with solid cancer classified into dexamethasone- and nondexamethasone-receiving groups. All participants were immunized with two doses of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 or CoronaVac vaccines. This study's purpose was to compare corticosteroid's effect on immunogenicity responses to the SARS-CoV-2 S protein in patients with cancer after two doses of COVID-19 vaccine in the dexamethasone and nondexamethasone group. Secondary outcomes included the postimmunization anti-spike (S) immunoglobin G (IgG) seroconversion rate, the association of corticosteroid dosage, time duration, and immunogenicity level.

RESULTS

Among the 161 enrolled patients with solid cancer, 71 and 90 were in the dexamethasone and nondexamethasone groups, respectively. The median anti-S IgG titer after COVID-19 vaccination in the dexamethasone group was lower than that in the nondexamethasone group with a statistically significant difference (47.22 v 141.09 U/mL, P = .035). The anti-S IgG seroconversion rate was also significantly lower in the dexamethasone group than in the nondexamethasone group (93.83% v 80.95%, P = .023). The lowest median anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG titer level at 7.89 AU/mL was observed in patients with the highest dose of steroid group (≥37 mg of dexamethasone cumulative dose throughout the course of chemotherapy [per course]) and patients who were injected with COVID-19 vaccines on the same day of receiving dexamethasone, 25.41 AU/mL.

CONCLUSION

Patients with solid cancer vaccinated against COVID-19 disease while receiving dexamethasone had lower immunogenicity responses than those who got vaccines without dexamethasone. The direct association between the immunogenicity level and steroid dosage, as well as length of duration from vaccination to dexamethasone, was observed.

Effect of dexamethasone on antibody response of horses to vaccination with a combined equine influenza virus and equine herpesvirus-1 vaccine

BACKGROUND

Dexamethasone is routinely administered to horses but its effect on the antibody response to a commercial EIV/EHV vaccine is unclear.

HYPOTHESIS

Horses receiving dexamethasone will have lower postvaccination antibody levels against EIV and EHV-1 than vaccinated controls.

ANIMALS

Fifty-five healthy adult research horses.

METHODS

Randomized cohort study. Control (no vaccine, group 1), vaccination only (EIV/EHV-1/EHV-4, Prestige 2, Merck Animal Health, group 2), vaccination and concurrent single intravenous dose of dexamethasone (approximately .05 mg/kg, group 3), vaccination and 3 intravenous doses of dexamethasone at 24 hours intervals (group 4). Serum SAA levels were measured on day 1 and day 3. Antibody levels against EIV (hemagglutination inhibition assay, Kentucky 2014 antigen) and EHV-1 (multiplex ELISA targeting total IgG and IgG 4/7) were measured on day 1 and day 30.

RESULTS

Significantly increased mean antibody titers after vaccination were only noted against EIV and only after the vaccination alone (n = 14, prevaccine mean [prvm] 166.9, SD 259.6, 95% CI 16.95-316.8; postvaccine mean [povm] 249.1, SD 257.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] 100.6-397.6, P = .02) and the single dose dexamethasone (n = 14, prvm 93.14, SD 72.2, CI 51.45-134.8; povm 185.1, SD 118, CI 116.7-253.6, P = .01), but not after multiple doses of dexamethasone (n = 14, prvm 194.3, SD 258.3, CI 45.16-343.4; povm 240.0, SD 235.7, CI 103.9-376.1, P > .05).

CONCLUSION

The effect of dexamethasone on the postvaccine antibody response varies depending on the dosing frequency and the antigen-specific antibody type.

Emotional Reaction to the First Dose of COVID-19 Vaccine: Postvaccination Decline in Anxiety and Stress among Anxious Individuals and Increase among Individuals with Normal Prevaccination Anxiety Levels

Although vaccination has been adopted by the WHO to limit worldwide transmission of COVID-19, people’s worries about COVID-19 vaccines may suppress their desire for vaccination despite vaccine availability. This study aimed to investigate anxiety and stress symptoms among 250 Jordanians (mean age = 43.18 ± 6.34 years, 72% females) who received their first vaccine dose. The respondents completed the anxiety and stress subscales of the Depression Anxiety and Stress scale 21 (DASS-21) before and after vaccination. The respondents expressed more moderate–severe levels of stress before than after vaccination (20.8% and 13.2%, respectively). Meanwhile, 37.2% and 45.2% of the respondents expressed moderate–severe anxiety before and after vaccination, respectively. Wilcoxon signed-rank test revealed that the drop in the level of stress from before- (median (IQR) = 5 (1–8)) to after vaccination (median (IQR) = 3 (1–7)) was statistically significant (z = −3.81, p = 0.001, r = 0.17) while the increase in anxiety was not. Anxiety significantly dropped postvaccination among individuals experiencing mild to severe anxiety before vaccination. Similarly, stress and anxiety significantly increased among individuals expressing normal anxiety before vaccination (z = −3.57 and −8.24, p values = 0.001, r = 0.16 and 0.37, respectively). Age positively correlated with postvaccination anxiety among respondents with mild prevaccination anxiety, and it negatively correlated with the prevaccination level of stress in the normal-anxiety group. Gender, marital status, respondents’ level of education, and history of COVID-19 infection had no significant correlation with anxiety or stress at either point of measurement. Overcoming their hesitancy to receive COVID-19 vaccines, individuals with normal levels of anxiety experienced a rise in their distress symptoms following immunization. On the contrary, vaccination seemed to desensitize anxious individuals. Policymakers need to formulate a population-specific plan to increase vaccine preparedness and promote psychological well-being over all during the pandemic.

Endocrine risk factors for COVID-19: Endogenous and exogenous glucocorticoid excess

Patients with endogenous or exogenous glucocorticoid (GC) excess exhibit a range of side effects, including an increased risk of infections. Via both mechanism, immune impairments and cardiometabolic concomitant diseases, patients with GC excess could be at increased risk for COVID-19. The impact on incidence and outcome of a SARS-CoV-2 infection in this population are not yet completely clear. This review aims to compile the data available to date and to discuss the existing literature on this topic. Further we highlight potential effects of SARS-CoV-2 on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis as well as the influence of endogenous or exogenous GC excess on SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination. There is growing evidence suggesting an increased risk of infection and severe outcome in patients with high-dose GC therapy after contracting SARS-CoV-2. The few data and case reports on patients with endogenous GC excess and SARS-CoV-2 infection point in a similar direction: chronic GC excess seems to be associated with an unfavorable course of COVID-19. Whether this is mainly a primary immune-mediated effect, or also triggered by the many GC-associated comorbidities in this population, is not yet fully understood. Patients with endogenous or exogenous GC excess should be considered as a vulnerable group during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Regardless of the cause, vaccination and consistent surveillance and control of associated comorbidities are recommended.

Pain Management and COVID-19: A Latin American Perspective

Vaccinations and therapeutics have been developed for COVID-19, but vaccine uptake varies markedly among countries. Public health responses have also varied, in particular, with lockdown efforts and school closing. All over the world, the pandemic exposed healthcare and economic weaknesses. COVID-19 exacerbated mental health issues by exposing the population to prolonged periods of fear, anxiety, financial stress, psychological uncertainties, and sometimes isolation from even family and friends. Chronic pain patients have been disproportionately affected. The pandemic-associated stresses may have exacerbated their already painful symptoms while at the same time interrupting their access to care. The ramifications of the COVID-19 post-viral syndrome (“long COVID-19”) are not yet known. COVID-19 viral infection has been associated with neuropathic pain symptoms. Tele-triage and telehealth applications can help manage chronic pain patients in the COVID-19 era, but many interventional procedures, injections, or other treatments have been delayed. The role of palliative care for patients with terminal cases of infection must be re-examined. Palliative care is a relatively new medical specialty and allows terminally ill patients to die in as much comfort and peace as can be afforded to them. More training in palliative care for all clinicians is urgently needed. COVID-19 exposed much that is wrong or weak or inadequate in our healthcare systems, but it also allowed us to embrace new technologies and develop better systems to manage the challenge of a pandemic.

Steroid injections in pain management: influence on coronavirus disease 2019 vaccines

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, which has been rampant since the end of 2019, has evidently affected pain management in clinical practice. Fortunately, a COVID-19 vaccination program is currently in progress worldwide. There is an ongoing discussion that pain management using steroid injections can decrease COVID-19 vaccine efficacy, although currently there is no direct evidence to support this statement. As such, the feeling of pain in patients is doubled in addition to the co-existing ill-effects of social isolation associated with the pandemic. Thus, in the COVID-19 era, it has become necessary that physicians be able to provide high quality pain management without negatively impacting COVID-19 vaccine efficacy. Steroids can alter the entire process involved in the generation of adaptive immunity after vaccination. The period of hypophysis-pituitary-adrenal axis suppression is known to be 1 to 4 weeks after steroid injection, and although the exact timing for peak efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines is slightly different for each vaccine, the average is approximately 2 weeks. It is suggested to avoid steroid injections for a total of 4 weeks (1 week before and after the two vaccine doses) for the double-shot vaccines, and for 2 weeks in total (1 week before and after vaccination) for a single-shot vaccine. This review focuses on the basic concepts of the various COVID-19 vaccines, the effect of steroid injections on vaccine efficacy, and suggestions regarding an appropriate interval between the administration of steroid injections and the COVID-19 vaccine.

A New Consideration for Corticosteroid Injections: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19) Vaccination

Corticosteroid injection (CSI) is a commonly used tool in hand surgery that is often given little consideration as a potential detriment to vaccination efficacy. The authors reviewed guidelines issued by relevant societies for the timing of CSI around the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 vaccination period and the evidence used to support them. Ultimately, providers and patients should be adequately educated on the theoretical risks and benefits before proceeding with CSI immediately before, during, or immediately after coronavirus disease 2019 vaccination.