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Weidlich S, Schneider J, Lee M, Mijočević H, Graf N, Protzer U, Spinner C, Noe S. Seroconversion rate of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies and dating behaviour in HIV-PrEP users in a German metropolis during the COVID-19 pandemic. Int J STD AIDS 2023; 34:956-961. [PMID: 37461288 PMCID: PMC10352700 DOI: 10.1177/09564624231190419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, when mortality was high, social distance was the only option to prevent transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and prohibit uncontrolled spreading. As the impact of social distancing on sexual behavior was unclear, we aimed to assess the influence of sexual risk behavior on SARS-CoV-2 seroconversion in HIV pre-exposition prophylaxis (PrEP) users after declaration of the pandemic. METHODS Prospective study on SARS-CoV-2 IgG-antibody seroconversion rate over time in men having sex with men (MSM) using PrEP at a single tertiary university hospital in Munich, Germany, during quarterly (Q) routine HIV-PrEP visits over 1 year per participant (May 2020 - September 2021). Seroconversion was defined as at least one positive anti-nucleocapsid (anti-N) SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody test as surrogate for past infection. In addition, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), personal estimated risk behavior and sexual contacts were assessed. RESULTS Seroconversion rate during the full observation period was 7.3% (9/124 subjects) by September 2021. Percentage of subjects with symptomatic STIs (T. pallidum, N. gonorrhoeae, C. trachomatis and M. genitalium) was 18.7% in Q3-20, 8.1% in Q4-20, 11.1% in Q1-21, 11.6% in Q2-21 and 9.5% in Q3-21. Perception of subjective threat of SARS-CoV-2 infection and adequacy of preventive measures decreased during the observation period. However, self-reported sex behavior remained stable during the observation period. CONCLUSIONS Our cohort showed low proportion of PrEP-users with anti-N IgG by September 2021, comparable to the local incidence. Sexual behavior in this cohort did not change, despite local recommendations for social distancing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Weidlich
- Department of Internal Medicine II, School of Medicine, University Hospital rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Jochen Schneider
- Department of Internal Medicine II, School of Medicine, University Hospital rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Marcel Lee
- Department of Internal Medicine II, School of Medicine, University Hospital rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Hrvoje Mijočević
- Institute of Virology, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Natalia Graf
- Institute of Virology, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Ulrike Protzer
- Institute of Virology, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Christoph Spinner
- Department of Internal Medicine II, School of Medicine, University Hospital rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Sebastian Noe
- Department of Internal Medicine II, School of Medicine, University Hospital rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- MVZ München am Goetheplatz, Munich, Germany
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Kos IA, Kiefer M, Brill K, Cetin O, Bittenbring JT, Ahlgrimm M, Smola S, Lohse S, Christofyllakis K, Kaddu-Mulindwa D, Neumann F, Bewarder M, Thurner L. Adaptive humoral immune response and cellular immune status in cancer patients and patients under immunosuppression vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2. Expert Rev Vaccines 2022; 21:1683-1689. [PMID: 35994606 DOI: 10.1080/14760584.2022.2116009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with cancer and autoimmune diseases are at higher risk of severe COVID-19. They may not develop protective immune responses following vaccination. We investigated patients' cellular and humoral immune response after two COVID-19 vaccine doses. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Subjects were stratified into subgroups according to therapy and grade of immunosuppression at time of vaccination. RESULTS Antibody titers were compared to healthy controls. 32/122 (26%) did not develop detectable antibody titers. Of these, 22 (66.6%) had active therapy. Patients showed significant lower antibody titers compared to controls (median 790 vs. 3923 AU/mL, p = 0.026). Patients with active therapy had significant lower antibody titers compared to those without (median 302 vs. 3952 U/L P < 0.001). B-cell count was lower in the group without antibody titers (median 29.97 vs. 152.8; p = 0.002). 100% of patients under anti-CD20 therapy had no detectable antibody titer, followed by anti-TNF (66%), BTK inhibitors (50%), ruxolitinib (35.5%), TKI (14.2%), and lenalidomide (12.5%). Anti-CD20 therapy, ruxolitinib, BTK inhibitors, and anti-CD38 therapy presented significant lower antibody titers compared to controls. CONCLUSIONS Patients undergoing therapy for cancer or autoimmune diseases are at higher risk of insufficient humoral immune response following COVID-19 vaccination. Furthermore, alterations in the B-cell compartment correlate with lower antibody titers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Igor Age Kos
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Hematology and Oncology, Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Saarland University Medical Center, Homburg, Germany
| | - Maximilian Kiefer
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Hematology and Oncology, Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Saarland University Medical Center, Homburg, Germany
| | - Katharina Brill
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Hematology and Oncology, Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Saarland University Medical Center, Homburg, Germany
| | - Onur Cetin
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Hematology and Oncology, Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Saarland University Medical Center, Homburg, Germany
| | - Joerg Thomas Bittenbring
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Hematology and Oncology, Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Saarland University Medical Center, Homburg, Germany
| | - Manfred Ahlgrimm
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Hematology and Oncology, Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Saarland University Medical Center, Homburg, Germany
| | - Sigrun Smola
- Institute of Virology, Saarland University Medical Center, Homburg, Germany
| | - Stefan Lohse
- Institute of Virology, Saarland University Medical Center, Homburg, Germany
| | - Konstantinos Christofyllakis
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Hematology and Oncology, Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Saarland University Medical Center, Homburg, Germany
| | - Dominic Kaddu-Mulindwa
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Hematology and Oncology, Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Saarland University Medical Center, Homburg, Germany
| | - Frank Neumann
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Hematology and Oncology, Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Saarland University Medical Center, Homburg, Germany
| | - Moritz Bewarder
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Hematology and Oncology, Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Saarland University Medical Center, Homburg, Germany
| | - Lorenz Thurner
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Hematology and Oncology, Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Saarland University Medical Center, Homburg, Germany
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