Anti-SARS-CoV-2 S-RBD IgG Antibody Responses after COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine in the Chronic Disorder of Consciousness: A Pilot Study.

Maria Elena Pugliese,Francesco Coschignano,Paolo Tonin,Paolo Scola,Maria Girolama Raso,Giovanni Pugliese,Riccardo Battaglia,Roberta Bruschetta,Antonio Cerasa,Angela Pagliuso

doi:10.3390/jcm10245830

Abstract

Objective: In the last year, a large amount of research has investigated the anti-spike protein receptor-binding domain (S-RBD) antibody responses in patients at high risk of developing severe acute respiratory syndrome because of COVID-19 infection. However, no data are available on the chronic disorder of consciousness (DOC). Methods: Here, we evaluated anti-S-RBD IgG levels after vaccination in chronic DOC patients compared with demographically matched healthy controls (HC) by indirect chemiluminescence immunoassay. All individuals completed a two-dose-cycle vaccination with Pfizer mRNA vaccine (BNT162b2), and antibody responses were evaluated at 30 and 180 days after the administration of the second dose of vaccination. Results: We compared 32 DOC patients with 34 demographically matched healthy controls. Both DOC and HC groups showed a similar antibody response at 30 days, whereas at follow-up (180 days) DOC patients were characterized by lower S-RBD IgG levels with respect to controls. Additional multiple regression analyses including demographical and clinical comorbidities as predictors revealed that age was the only factor associated with the decrease in S-RBD IgG levels at follow-up (180 days). Elderly individuals of both groups were characterized by a reduction in the antibody responses with respect to younger individuals. Conclusions: Our results show an efficacy seroconversion in DOC patients in the first period after vaccination, which significantly declines over time with respect to healthy controls.

Highlights

The eruption of the COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the newly discovered SARS-CoV-2 virus, has had a profound impact on human life on a global scale [1,2]
Since January 2020, when the first sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 became public, the scientific community has worked toward the rapid development of mRNA, protein, viral vector, and other types of COVID-19 vaccines
Findings from studies conducted in the United States and Germany among healthy men and women showed that two 30 μg doses of Pfizer vaccine (BNT162b2) elicited high SARS-CoV-2 antibody titers and robust antigen-specific T-cell responses (CD8+ and Th1-type CD4+)

Summary

Introduction

The eruption of the COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the newly discovered SARS-CoV-2 virus, has had a profound impact on human life on a global scale [1,2]. Since January 2020, when the first sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 became public, the scientific community has worked toward the rapid development of mRNA, protein, viral vector, and other types of COVID-19 vaccines. Union (EU) to prevent COVID-19 are distinct in genetic (Pfizer–Biontech and Moderna) [5,6]. The first vaccine given such authorization was an mRNA in lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), from Pfizer–BioNTech. Findings from studies conducted in the United States and Germany among healthy men and women showed that two 30 μg doses of Pfizer vaccine (BNT162b2) elicited high SARS-CoV-2 antibody titers and robust antigen-specific T-cell responses (CD8+ and Th1-type CD4+).

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion