Humoral immune response to COVID-19 vaccine in patients with myasthenia gravis

J Neuroimmunol. 2023 Nov 15:384:578215. doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2023.578215. Epub 2023 Sep 28.

Abstract

We investigated the humoral response to the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 (BNT162b2) vaccine in patients with myasthenia gravis on or off immunosuppressants and compared this to the response in healthy individuals. The SARS-CoV-2 IgG response and neutralizing capacity were measured in 83 patients (57 on immunosuppressants) and 332 healthy controls at baseline, three weeks, and two and six months after the vaccine. We found that the proportion of positive humoral response was lower in patients on immunosuppressants vs. controls at three weeks and two months (p ≤ 0.001), but not at six months post-vaccination (p = 0.379).

Keywords: BNT162b2; COVID-19 vaccine; Humoral response; Myasthenia gravis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • BNT162 Vaccine
  • COVID-19 Vaccines
  • COVID-19*
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Humoral
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Myasthenia Gravis*
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Vaccination

Substances

  • COVID-19 Vaccines
  • BNT162 Vaccine
  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Immunosuppressive Agents