Waning humoral and cellular immunity after COVID-19 vaccination in patients with psoriasis treated with methotrexate and biologics: A cohort study

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

  • Amanda Kvist-Hansen
  • Laura Pérez-Alós
  • Rownaq Fares Al-Sofi
  • Sebastian Rask Hamm
  • Dina Leth Møller
  • Mia Marie Pries-Heje
  • Kamille Fogh
  • Rasmus Bo Hasselbalch
  • Johannes Roth Madsen
  • Jose Juan Almagro Armenteros
  • Erik Sørensen

Background: mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines have short- and long-term efficacy in healthy individuals, but their efficacy in patients with psoriasis receiving immunomodulatory therapy is less studied. Objectives: To investigate long-term immunity after COVID-19 vaccination in patients with psoriasis receiving immunomodulatory therapy. Methods: A prospective cohort study including patients (n = 123) with psoriasis receiving methotrexate (MTX) or biologics and controls (n = 226). Only mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines administered with standard intervals between doses were investigated. Markers of immunity included SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein-specific IgG and IgA, neutralizing capacity, and interferon-γrelease from T cells stimulated with peptides of the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein. Results: The proportion of IgG responders was lower 6 months after vaccination in patients receiving anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) treatment compared with controls. Anti-TNF treatment was associated with lower IgG levels (β = -0.82, 95% confidence interval -1.38 to -0.25; P = 0.001). The median neutralizing index was lower in the anti-TNF group [50% inhibition (interquartile range [IQR] 37-89)] compared with controls [98% inhibition (IQR 96-99)]; P < 0.001. Cellular responses were numerically lowest in the anti-TNF group. Conclusions: Treatment with anti-TNF has an impact on the immunity elicited by mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccination in patients with psoriasis, resulting in a faster waning of humoral and cellular markers of immunity; however, the clinical implications are unknown.

Original languageEnglish
JournalBritish Journal of Dermatology
Volume188
Issue number5
Pages (from-to)661-669
Number of pages9
ISSN0007-0963
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2023

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Author(s). Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of British Association of Dermatologists. All rights reserved.

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