Determining the best window for BNT162b2 mRNA vaccination for SARS-CoV-2 in patients with multiple sclerosis receiving anti-CD20 therapy. Issue 4 (October 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rico, Audrey; Ninove, Laetitia; Maarouf, Adil; Boutiere, Clémence; Durozard, Pierre; Demortiere, Sarah; Saba Villarroel, Paola Mariela; Amroun, Abdennour; Fourié, Toscane; de Lamballerie, Xavier; Pelletier, Jean; Audoin, Bertrand
• Is Part Of: Multiple sclerosis journal, experimental, translational and clinical. Volume 7:Issue 4(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-10
• Subjects: disease-modifying therapies -- multiple sclerosis; Multiple sclerosis -- Periodicals; 616.834
• DOI: 10.1177/20552173211062142
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2055-2173

Abstract

We studied the serologic response to the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine at four weeks after the second dose in patients with RRMS treated with rituximab with extended-interval dosing ( n = 26). At four weeks, 73% of patients were seropositive. No patient without B cells at the first dose ( n = 4) was seropositive. Four of seven (57%) patients with B-cell proportion >0% and ≤5% were seropositive. All patients with B-cell proportion >5% ( n = 15) were seropositive. In all patients, quantitative ELISA measures after vaccination were correlated with B-cell counts measured before vaccination. In patients receiving rituximab, seropositivity after BNT162b2 mRNA vaccination emerged only after B-cell repopulation.