IntroductionVaccination represents a cornerstone in mastering the COVID-19 pandemic. Data on immunogenicity and safety of messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines in patients with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases (AIIRD) are limited.MethodsA multicentre observational study evaluated the immunogenicity and safety of the two-dose regimen BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine in adult patients with AIIRD (n=686) compared with the general population (n=121). Serum IgG antibody levels against SARS-CoV-2 spike S1/S2 proteins were measured 2–6 weeks after the second vaccine dose. Seropositivity was defined as IgG ≥15 binding antibody units (BAU)/mL. Vaccination efficacy, safety, and disease activity were assessed within 6 weeks after the second vaccine dose.ResultsFollowing vaccination, the seropositivity rate and S1/S2 IgG levels were significantly lower among patients with AIIRD versus controls (86% (n=590) vs 100%, p<0.0001 and 132.9±91.7 vs 218.6±82.06 BAU/mL, p<0.0001, respectively). Risk factors for reduced immunogenicity included older age and treatment with glucocorticoids, rituximab, mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), and abatacept. Rituximab was the main cause of a seronegative response (39% seropositivity). There were no postvaccination symptomatic cases of COVID-19 among patients with AIIRD and one mild case in the control group. Major adverse events in patients with AIIRD included death (n=2) several weeks after the second vaccine dose, non-disseminated herpes zoster (n=6), uveitis (n=2), and pericarditis (n=1). Postvaccination disease activity remained stable in the majority of patients.ConclusionmRNA BNTb262 vaccine was immunogenic in the majority of patients with AIIRD, with an acceptable safety profile. Treatment with glucocorticoids, rituximab, MMF, and abatacept was associated with a significantly reduced BNT162b2-induced immunogenicity.

Expression of Ki-67, a nuclear antigen protein present in all cycling cells, is used to determine the growth fraction of tumors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role and prognostic significance of the Ki-67 proliferation index (PI) in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Ki-67 was assayed immunohistochemically in tissue samples of 319 patients with newly-diagnosed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. In 268 patients, the Ki-67 PI was correlated with clinical course and outcome. The mean Ki-67 PI ranged from 26.6% in indolent lymphomas to 97.6% in very aggressive lymphomas (P < 0.001). The index was <45% in 82.8% of indolent lymphomas and >45% in 85% of aggressive lymphomas (AUC 5 0.877, P < 0.001). In patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (n 5 141), a Ki-67 PI of 70% was found to significantly discriminate patients with good or bad prognosis (AUC 5 0.65, P 5 0.004). Three-year survival was 75% ± 5.6% in patients with a low Ki-67 index compared with 55.9% ± 6% in patients with a high index (P 5 0.015). In patients with a low IPI (≤2), 3-year survival was 94% ± 4% in those with a Ki-67 index ≤70% and 64% ± 8.1% in those with a higher index (P 5 0.002); in patients with bulky disease (>10 cm), the corresponding 3-year survival by Ki-67 index was 100% and 25% ± 12% (P 5 0.012). Our results suggest that the mean Ki-67 PI differs by type of lymphoma. A cut-off value of 45% can help differentiate indolent from aggressive disease. In diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, a cut-off value of 70% can distinguish patients with a good and bad prognosis when combined with other prognostic factors of low IPI score and bulky disease. Am. J. Hematol. 84:338-343, 2009. V

Background:Vaccination represents a cornerstone in mastering the COVID-19 pandemic. Data on immunogenicity, efficacy, and safety of the novel BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine in patients with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases (AIIRD) are limited.Objectives:To investigate the immunogenicity, efficacy, and safety of the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine in patients with AIIRD compared to the general population.Methods:A prospective multicenter study investigated immunogenicity, efficacy, and safety of the two-dose regimen BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine in adult patients with AIIRD including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), axial spondyloarthropathy (axSpA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), connective tissues diseases (CTD), systemic vasculitides, and idiopathic inflammatory myositis (IIM), compared to control subjects without rheumatic diseases or immunosuppressive therapies. Serum IgG antibody levels against SARS-CoV-2 spike S1/S2 proteins were measured 2 - 6 weeks after the second vaccine dose. Seropositivity was defined as IgG ≥15 binding antibody units (BAU)/ml. Post-vaccination efficacy defined as post-vaccination COVID-19 infection and safety were assessed. Pre- and post- vaccination disease activity indices were assessed as appropriate for each disease.Results:A total of 686 AIIRD patients and 121 controls participated into the study. AIIRD patients were significantly older than controls, mean age±SD 56.76±14.88 vs 50.76±14.68, respectively, p<0.0001. A total of 95.2% (n=653) AIIRD patients were treated with immunomodulatory medications.The seropositivity rate was 86% (n=590) in patients with AIIRD compared to 100% in controls (p <0.0001) The level of the S1/S2 antibodies was significantly reduced in AIIRD patients compared to controls (mean± SD 132.9±91.7 vs 218.6±82.06, P<0.0001). In patients with PsA, AxSpA, SLE, and LVV, the seropositive rate was above 90%. In RA, the seropositive rate was 82.1% and the lowest seropositive rate (<40%) was observed in patients with AAV and IIM.Anti-CD20 significantly impaired the vaccine’s immunogenicity, with the lowest seropositivity rate of 39%. The use of GC, mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), and abatacept was associated with a significantly lower rate of seropositivity (Figure 1). MTX significantly reduced the seropositivity in patients treated with MTX monotherapy and in combinations with other treatments (92% and 84%, respectively), although at a lesser magnitude than anti-CD20, MMF, and abatacept. More than 97% of patients treated with anti-cytokine therapies including TNFi, interleukin-17 and interleukin-6 inhibitors had an appropriate immunogenic response when used as monotherapy. The combination of TNFi with MTX significantly reduced the rate of seropositivity to 93%, p=0.04. Age over 65 years, a diagnosis of RA, IIM, ANCA-associated vascilitis, and treatment with GC, MMF, anti-CD20, and abatacept were associated with a reduced likelihood of seropositivity.Figure 1.Seropositivity rate by immunosuppressive treatment.There were no post-vaccination symptomatic cases of COVID-19 among AIIRD patients and one mild case in the control group. Major adverse events in AIIRD patients included death (n=2) several weeks after the second vaccine dose, non-disseminated herpes zoster (n=6), uveitis (n=2), and pericarditis (n=1). Post-vaccination disease activity remained stable in the majority of patients.Conclusion:Vaccination with the BNTb262 vaccine resulted in an adequate immunogenic response with an acceptable safety profile in the majority of patients with AIIRD. Treatment with GC, rituximab, MMF, and abatacept may impair BNT162b2-induced immunogenicity. Postponing administration of rituximab, when clinically feasible, seems to be reasonable to improve vaccine-induced immunogenicity. Holding treatment with abatacept and MMF may be considered on an individual basis.Disclosure of Interests:None declared