Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38923834›Full record

ArticleACR open rheumatology2024

COVID-19 Vaccination Before Initiating Rituximab Treatment Induces Strong Serological Response in Autoimmune Rheumatic Disease, Reducing Post-Pandemic Concerns About the Impact of Rituximab.

Christian Ammitzbøll, Marianne Kragh Thomsen, Lars Erik Bartels, Cecilie Bo Hansen, Marie-Louise From Hermansen, Mathias Hänel, Rasmus Klose-Jensen, Mads Lamm Larsen, Morgan Oliver Lauritsen, Clara Elbæk Mistegaard and 8 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in ACR open rheumatology, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

18 authors.

Christian AmmitzbøllAarhus University Hospital and Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8535-1613
Marianne Kragh ThomsenAarhus University Hospital and Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3645-6689
Lars Erik BartelsAarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9101-1076
Cecilie Bo HansenRigshospitalet, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7709-4522
Marie-Louise From HermansenAarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9108-8604
Mathias HänelAarhus University Hospital and Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0003-0764-5311
Rasmus Klose-JensenAarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3318-4251
Mads Lamm LarsenAarhus University Hospital and Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8670-0750
Morgan Oliver LauritsenAarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0004-8341-2402
Clara Elbæk MistegaardAarhus University Hospital and Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6359-2192
Susan MikkelsenAarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7806-1143
Janne Bille Mønster OlesenAarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
Esben Uggerby NæserAarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8185-9666
Morten Aagaard NielsenAarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1077-9727
Christian ErikstrupAarhus University Hospital and Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6551-6647
Peter GarredRigshospitalet, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2876-8586
Ellen-Margrethe HaugeAarhus University Hospital and Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2562-9174
Anne TroldborgAarhus University Hospital and Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9501-1268

Funding

Carlsbergfondet CF20-0045Gigtforeningen R203-A7217Novo Nordisk Fonden NFF205A0063505Novo Nordisk Fonden NNF20SA0064201Svend Andersen Fonden SARF2021
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveRituximab (RTX)-treated patients exhibit suboptimal responses to COVID-19 vaccines. However, existing research primarily involves patients already receiving RTX when vaccines were introduced, failing to account for the current landscape where patients are vaccinated before initiating RTX. Our objective was to compare the serological response to COVID-19 vaccines in patients vaccinated before or after RTX initiation.

methodsWe included 254 RTX-treated patients with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases (AIIRDs) and 113 blood donors (BDs) in a retrospective, observational cohort study. Patients were categorized based on the timing of RTX treatment relative to primary COVID-19 vaccination. Serological vaccine responses were assessed using three immunoassays, and logistic regression analysis was used to identify predictors of serological response.

resultsPatients vaccinated before initiating RTX treatment had significantly higher seroconversion rates of SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin G (87%) and neutralizing antibodies (91%) compared with those receiving RTX before and after vaccination (n = 132) (61% and 65%, respectively). In the logistic regression analysis, a positive serological response was associated with the number of vaccines administered >9 months after the last RTX treatment. Patients receiving the highest number of vaccines with >9 months after RTX showed a response comparable to that of the BDs.

conclusionVaccinating before RTX initiation yields a robust serological response in patients with AIIRDs. Furthermore, we highlight the reversibility of antibody impairment after RTX treatment cessation, provided that adequate vaccinations occur within a minimum of 9 months after RTX. Our findings offer essential insights for clinical decision-making regarding COVID-19 vaccination and RTX treatment, alleviating concerns about future RTX use.

Identifiers

PMID38923834
PMCPMC11319921

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.