Impact of COVID‐19 infection and vaccination in pancreatobiliary IgG4‐related disease patients: An international multicenter study. Issue 4 (6th January 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tang, Raymond S Y; Sattayalertyanyong, Onuma; Kuo, Yu‐Ting; Park, Kenneth H; Anastassiades, Constantinos; Ligresti, Dario; Hayashi, Nobuhiko; Hasan, Aws; Kim, Tae‐Hyeon; Pausawasdi, Nonthalee; Wang, Hsiu‐Po; Lo, Simon K; Ho, Khek‐Yu; Barresi, Luca; Traina, Mario; Yasuda, Ichiro; Savides, Thomas J; Koo, Chieh‐Sian; Chan, Ting Ting; Lam, Thomas Y T; Sung, Joseph J Y
• Is Part Of: Journal of gastroenterology and hepatology. Volume 38:Issue 4(2023)
• Page Start: 584
• Page End: 589
• Publication Date: 2023-01-06
• Subjects: COVID‐19 -- COVID‐19 vaccination -- immunosuppressive therapy -- pancreatobiliary IgG4 related disease; Gastroenterology -- Periodicals; Digestive organs -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Liver -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Gastroenterology -- Periodicals; Liver Diseases -- Periodicals; 616.33
• DOI: 10.1111/jgh.16100
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0815-9319

Abstract

Abstract: Background and Aim: Dedicated studies evaluating the impact of COVID‐19 on outcomes of pancreatobiliary IgG4 related disease (IgG4‐RD) patients are scarce. Whether COVID‐19 infection or vaccination would trigger IgG4‐RD exacerbation remains unknown. Methods: Pancreatobiliary IgG4‐RD patients ≥ 18 years old with active follow‐up since January 2020 from nine referral centers in Asia, Europe, and North America were included in this multicenter retrospective study. Outcome measures include incidence and severity of COVID‐19 infection, IgG4‐RD disease activity and treatment status, interruption of indicated IgG4‐RD treatment. Prospective data on COVID‐19 vaccination status and new COVID‐19 infection during the Omicron outbreak were also retrieved in the Hong Kong cohort. Results: Of the 124 pancreatobiliary IgG4‐RD patients, 25.0% had active IgG4‐RD, 71.0% were on immunosuppressive therapies and 80.6% had ≥ 1 risk factor for severe COVID. In 2020 (pre‐vaccination period), two patients (1.6%) had COVID‐19 infection (one requiring ICU admission), and 7.2% of patients had interruptions in indicated immunosuppressive treatment for IgG4‐RD. Despite a high vaccination rate (85.0%), COVID‐19 infection rate has increased to 20.0% during Omicron outbreak in the Hong Kong cohort. A trend towards higher COVID‐19 infection rate was noted in the non‐fully vaccinated/unvaccinated group (17.6% vs 33.3%, P = 0.376). No IgG4‐RD exacerbation following COVID‐19 vaccination or infection was observed. Conclusion: While a low COVID‐19 infection rate with no mortality was observed in pancreatobiliary IgG4‐RD patients in the pre‐vaccination period of COVID‐19, infection rate has increased during the Omicron outbreak despite a high vaccination rate. No IgG4‐RD exacerbation after COVID‐19 infection or vaccination was observed.