Inadequate Vaccine Responses in Children With Multiple Sclerosis

Efficacy of Accelerated Vaccination against Hbv to Achieve Antibody formation in Multiple Sclerosis Patients Receiving Anti-Cd20 Therapy

Aim

Ocrelizumab is a monoclonal antibody that has been approved for use in both relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) and primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS). Since ocrelizumab acts on B cells, it also affects humoral immunity, thus reducing the vaccine response. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the relationship between the antibody response following rapid vaccination against hepatitis B virus (HBV) in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients receiving ocrelizumab treatment, and the time of vaccination.

Materials and Methods

A total of 220 MS patients were included in this retrospective analysis. The patients' baseline HBV serostatuses (HbsAg, Anti-HbsAb, Anti-HbcAb), previous drug history for MS, whether they were vaccinated against HBV in the past, vaccination status before or after ocrelizumab treatment, and protective antibody titers according to vaccination times, occult HBV incidence and initiation of antiviral treatment were evaluated.

Results

Forty-nine percent of MS patients using ocrelizumab were not vaccinated against HBV. The patients were divided into three groups according to their vaccination status as: individuals vaccinated in the past (7.3%, n = 16), vaccinated before treatment (4.5%, n = 10), and vaccinated after treatment (22.3%, n = 49). The antibody titers of the patients in the 6th month after ocrelizumab treatment were measured as 78 mIU/ml, 193 mIU/ml, and 0, respectively. The number of patients with occult HBV infection was 38.

Conclusion

In patients with a suspected diagnosis of MS, HBV serostatus should be evaluated at the beginning and if necessary, patients should be vaccinated in the early period. Vaccinating patients at least 1 month before initiating multiple sclerosis treatment is more effective in terms of protective antibody formation.

Blunted Post-COVID-19 Humoral Immunity in Patients With CNS Demyelinating Disorders on Anti-CD20 Treatments

With unclear characteristics of post-infection and post-vaccination immunity, the multiple sclerosis community lacks evidence to guide patients on their continued coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection risk. As disease modifying treatments all modulate the immune system, we expect their use to alter acquired immunity to COVID-19, but the specific impact of individual treatments is unclear. To address this, we analyzed the patient and COVID-19 specific characteristics associated with post-infection humoral immunity in 58 patients with central nervous system (CNS) demyelinating disorders in the Boston metropolitan area. Univariate analysis of variance was performed using Mann Whitney U test for continuous variables, and Chi Square or Fisher Exact test for nominal variables. Univariate and stepwise multivariate nominal logistic regression identified clinical characteristics associated with COVID-19 specific nucleocapsid IgG antibody formation post-infection. Our cohort demonstrated a 42% post-infection seropositive rate with a significantly higher rate observed with shorter duration between infection and antibody collection and use of natalizumab over no/other treatment. Use of anti-CD20 treatments compared to no/other treatment was associated with a significantly lower rate of seropositivity. However, only shorter duration between infection and antibody collection as well as use of no/other treatment compared to anti-CD20 treatment were found to be independently associated with increased likelihood of post-infection seropositivity. Additionally, we demonstrate durability of antibody response up to 9 months in a small subset of patients. Thus, our data supports that patients with CNS demyelinating disorders regardless of DMT are able to form a measurable antibody response after COVID-19 infection, and that patients on anti-CD20 treatments form less robust immunity after COVID-19 infection.