J Korean Med Sci.  2023 Feb;38(5):e22. 10.3346/jkms.2023.38.e22.

Immunogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine in Kidney Transplant Recipients: A Cross-Sectional Study in Korea

• Song SH
• Chung KY
• Jee Y
• Chung HS
• Kim K
• Minn D
• Kim SK

• KMID: 2539195
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2023.38.e22

Abstract

Eighty-five Korean kidney transplant recipients who received three doses of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccine were tested with anti-receptor binding domain (RBD) antibody and neutralizing antibody. High anti-RBD antibody (≥ 100 U/mL) and neutralizing antibody responses (≥ 30%) were detected in 51/85 (60.0%) patients. When we divided the patients with the time from transplantation to vaccination (< 1, 1–2.4, 2.5–4.9, and ≥ 5-year), anti-RBD antibody titers were 3.2 U/mL, 27.8 U/mL, 370.2 U/mL, and 5,094.2 U/mL (P < 0.001) and anti-neutralizing antibody levels were 2.2%, 11.6%, 45.6%, and 93.0% (P < 0.001), respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed increased antibody responses when the time from transplantation to vaccination was five years or longer (odds ratio, 12.0; confidence interval, 2.7–52.8). Korean kidney transplant recipients had suboptimal antibody responses after the third dose of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. A shorter time from transplantation to vaccination was a risk factor for a low antibody response.

Keyword

COVID-19; Kidney Transplantation; SARS-CoV-2; Vaccine

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Antibody responses in kidney transplant recipients. (A) Anti-RBD antibody titers were significantly different according to the time from transplantation to vaccination. (B) Neutralizing antibody levels were significantly different according to the time from transplantation to vaccination.RBD = receptor binding domain.***P < 0.001

• 

  Fig. 2 Odds ratio (y-axis) of the chances of developing anti-RBD antibodies (≥ 100 U/mL) according to the time from transplantation to vaccination.RBD = receptor binding domain.

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