The frequency of class G immunoglobulins` formation to the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus in immunization of HIV-infected patients with Gam-COVID-Vac vaccine and the reactogenicity of the vaccine

Abstract

The research aimed to study the frequency of class G antibodies` formation to SARS-CoV-2 in HIV-infected patients in response to immunization with the Gam-COVID-Vac vaccine and the reactogenicity of the vaccine.Materials and methods. 36 HIV-infected and 38 HIV-negative volunteers were vaccinated. The inclusion criteria for patients were: age 18 years and older; absence of earlier disease COVID-19; negative test of the presence of RNA in a smear from the nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal mucosa and IgG in blood serum to SARS-CoV-2, absence of contraindications, undetectable viral load. The number of CD4+ lymphocytes in the blood of HIV-infected people before vaccination was 520,0±9,6. It was used the two-dose vaccine Gam-COVID-Vac, developed by National Research Center named after N.F. Gamaliel. The interval between the administration of the vaccine was 24,2±0,5 days. The presence of IgG before vaccination and 44–54±0,6 days after the start of vaccination to SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus was determined by enzyme immunoassay using the SARS-CoV-2-RBD-ELISA-Gamaleya test system. The positivity index (PI) was calculated for each test sample. The sample was considered positive at IP>1.Results. The presence of antibodies in HIV-infected patients was detected in 75,0% cases, in HIV-negative — in 92,1% cases, the arithmetic average of the positivity index was 10,3±1,9 in the observation group, 15,3±1,9 in the comparison group (c2=3,9; p=0,04). There are no postvaccinal complications registered in patients of both groups. The frequency of general reactions to the introduction of the first and (or) second components of the vaccine in the group of HIV-infected and HIV-negative did not differ and amounted to 8,3 and 13,2%, respectively. Local reactions among HIV-infected (in 19,4% of cases) were less common than among HIV-negative (in 47,4% of cases) (c2=6,4; p=0,01).Conclusion. Humoral immunity in response to immunization of Gam-COVID-Vac against SARS-CoV-2 in HIV-infected with minor immunosuppression is less pronounced than in HIV-negative. However, the production of postvaccinal class G immunoglobulins in HIV-infected patients in 75,0% of cases and the weak reactogenicity of the vaccine it is recommended for using in people living with HIV on the back of effective antiretroviral therapy.