Science: Kidney transplant recipients are particularly vulnerable to variations

Most people who have had a kidney transplant do not show a strong immune response at the antibody level after being vaccinated twice, which is why they are particularly vulnerable to new variants of the coronavirus, according to a new German scientific study. the appearance of Omicron, which makes it even more necessary to administer a booster dose.

The researchers, led by Dr. Claudius Speer of the University Hospital of Heidelberg, who published the study in the CJASN (Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology), analyzed data from 173 healthy calves (163 recipients). the control group), who had been vaccinated in 2021.

After vaccination, fewer transplant recipients developed neutralizing anti-coronavirus antibodies than healthy ones. After the second dose, the antibodies were detected in 24% to 30% of the transplanted versus 96% to 100% of the healthy.

Transplanted patients belong to a high-risk group for Covid-19 infection and for more serious disease, so vaccinating them with a third dose is a priority. The new study, which shows that these people produce fewer antibodies, concerns the Beta and Delta variants, but it is estimated that accordingly – if not more – their protection against Omicron is reduced.

“We have found that a large proportion of kidney transplant recipients are not adequately protected against the Beta and Delta variants. Additional vaccinations appear to be required to maintain high levels of neutralizing antibodies,” said Dr. Speer.

Link to the scientific publication:

https://cjasn.asnjournals.org/content/early/2021/12/20/CJN.11820921

Source: ΑΠΕ-ΜΠΕ