SARS-CoV-2 antibody dynamics among kidney transplant recipients 3 months after BNT162b2 vaccination: a prospective cohort study

Abstract

Data regarding immunogenicity of mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccines among kidney transplant recipients in the months following vaccination are lacking. We aimed to investigate humoral immune response at 3–4 months post vaccination among a cohort of kidney transplant recipients, compared to control group of dialysis patients. Anti-spike antibodies were tested at 1 and 3–4 months after vaccination. Of 259 kidney transplant recipients tested at median time of 110 days from second vaccine dose, 99 (38%) were seropositive, compared with 83% (101/122) control patients. Younger age, better renal function, and lower immunosuppression levels were associated with seropositivity. 14% (13/94) of participants seropositive at 1 month became seronegative at follow up, and 12% (18/165) became seropositive. The latter were mainly individuals with higher antibody levels at 1 month. Antibody levels at 3–4 months were significantly reduced in both study groups, though the decline was more pronounced in the control group. Kidney transplant recipients present poor antibody response to mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, with only 38% seropositive at 3–4 months. Nevertheless, the decay in antibody response over time is modest, and some patients may present delayed response, reaching adequate antibody levels at 3–4 months. Low seropositivity rates in this group call for investigating other immunization strategies.