Meningococcal ACWY conjugate vaccine immunogenicity in adolescents with primary or secondary immune deficiencies, a prospective observational cohort study

BACKGROUND

Immunization with meningococcal ACWY conjugate vaccine induces protective antibodies against invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) caused by serogroups A, C, W and Y. We studied MenACWY-TT vaccine immunogenicity in adolescents with a heterogenous group of primary and secondary immune deficiency including patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, mixed connective tissue disease, vasculitis, uveitis, 22Q11 syndrome, sickle cell disease, and patients who underwent stem cell transplantation for bone marrow failure.

FINDINGS

We enrolled 69 individuals aged 14-18 years diagnosed with a primary or secondary immune deficiency in a prospective observational cohort study. All patients received a single dose of MenACWY-TT vaccine during the catch-up campaign 2018-19 because of the IMD-W outbreak in the Netherlands. Capsular polysaccharide-specific (PS) IgG concentrations against MenACWY were measured before and 3-6, 12, and 24 months after vaccination. Overall, geometric mean concentrations (GMCs) of MenACWY-PS-specific IgG were lower in patients compared to data from healthy, aged-matched controls (n = 75) reaching significance at 12 months postvaccination for serogroup A and W (adjusted GMC ratios 0.26 [95% CI: 0.15-0.47] and 0.22 [95% CI: 0.10-0.49], respectively). No serious adverse events were reported by study participants.

CONCLUSIONS

The MenACWY conjugate vaccine was less immunogenic in adolescent patients with primary or secondary immunodeficiency compared to healthy controls, urging the need for further surveillance of these patients and supporting considerations for booster MenACWY conjugate vaccinations in these patient groups.

Meningococcal ACWY conjugate vaccine immunogenicity and safety in adolescents with juvenile idiopathic arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease: A prospective observational cohort study

BACKGROUND

Immunogenicity to meningococcal serogroup ACWY (MenACWY) conjugate vaccine has not been studied in immunocompromised minors with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We determined immunogenicity of a MenACWY-TT vaccine in JIA and IBD patients at adolescent age and compared results to data from aged-matched healthy controls (HCs).

METHODS

We performed a prospective observational cohort study in JIA and IBD patients (14-18 years old), who received a MenACWY vaccination during a nationwide catch-up campaign (2018-2019) in the Netherlands. Primary aim was to compare MenACWY polysaccharide-specific serum IgG geometric mean concentrations (GMCs) in patients with HCs and secondary between patients with or without anti-TNF therapy. GMCs were determined before and 3-6, 12, and 24 months postvaccination and compared with data from HCs at baseline and 12 months postvaccination. Serum bactericidal antibody (SBA) titers were determined in a subset of patients at 12 months postvaccination.

RESULTS

We included 226 JIA and IBD patients (66 % and 34 % respectively). GMCs were lower for MenA and MenW (GMC ratio 0·24 [0·17-0·34] and 0·16 [0·10-0·26] respectively, p < 0·01) in patients compared to HCs at 12 months postvaccination. Anti-TNF users had lower MenACWY GMCs postvaccination compared with those without anti-TNF (p < 0·01). The proportion protected (SBA ≥ 8) for MenW was reduced in anti-TNF users (76 % versus 92 % in non-anti-TNF and 100 % in HCs, p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

The MenACWY conjugate vaccine was immunogenic in the vast majority of JIA and IBD patients at adolescent age, but seroprotection was lower in patients using anti-TNF agents. Therefore, an extra booster MenACWY vaccination should be considered.

Prevalence of hepatitis C in the general population in the Netherlands

BACKGROUND

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) is transmitted by blood-blood contact and this leads to high HCV prevalence in risk populations such as haemophilia patients and intravenous drug users. The prevalence in the general Dutch population is unknown, although it appears to be very low in screened blood donors (0.0169%).

AIM

The objective of this study is to estimate the prevalence of HCV in a general population sample living in an urbanized region in the Netherlands.

METHODS

We randomly selected 2200 EDTA blood samples that had been submitted for analysis of biochemical parameters to a regional servicing laboratory for general practitioners (SHO, Arnhem/Nijmegen, the Netherlands). HCV antibody testing was performed using a three-step approach. For initial screening, an enzyme immunoassay (Bioelisa HCV 4.0, Biokit, Spain) was used. Positive samples were subjected to a second, microparticle enzyme-linked immunoassay (AxSYM HCV version 3.0, Abbott laboratories, IL , USA). Genotypes were determined by Line Probe Assay.

RESULTS

A total of four persons (two females, two males) (0.2%) tested positive for HCV antibodies. The average OD/cut-off ratio of the screening assay was 2.9 (range 1.0 to 7.3) and serological findings were confirmed using a specific second immunoassay. HCV RNA (genotype 1b) was found in the sera of two persons.

CONCLUSION

The HCV prevalence in our sample of the Dutch population was 0.2% which accords with earlier estimates from prevalence studies in the Netherlands.