4.7 Article

Benefits of Switching Mycophenolic Acid to Sirolimus on Serological Response after a SARS-CoV-2 Booster Dose among Kidney Transplant Recipients: A Pilot Study

Journal

VACCINES
Volume 10, Issue 10, Pages -

Publisher

MDPI
DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10101685

Keywords

COVID-19 vaccination; AZD1222; BNT162b2; kidney transplantation; immunosuppression; mycophenolic acid sparing; CNI reduction; anti-SARS-CoV-2 S antibody

Funding

  1. Ratchadapisek Sompoch Endowment Fund (Chulalongkorn University)
  2. Kidney Foundation of Thailand

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Switching from the standard immunosuppressive regimen to mTORi, TAC, and prednisolone regimen enhances the immune response in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) during COVID-19 vaccination.
Kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) have a suboptimal immune response to COVID-19 vaccination due to the effects of immunosuppression, mostly mycophenolic acid (MPA). This study investigated the benefits of switching from the standard immunosuppressive regimen (tacrolimus (TAC), MPA, and prednisolone) to a regimen of mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor (mTORi), TAC and prednisolone two weeks pre- and two weeks post-BNT162b2 booster vaccination. A single-center, opened-label pilot study was conducted in KTRs, who received two doses of ChAdOx-1 and a single dose of BNT162b2. The participants were randomly assigned to continue the standard regimen (control group, n = 14) or switched to a sirolimus (an mTORi), TAC, and prednisolone (switching group, n = 14) regimen two weeks before and two weeks after receiving a booster dose of BNT162b2. The anti-SARS-CoV-2 S antibody level after vaccination in the switching group was significantly greater than the control group (4051.0 [IQR 3142.0-6466.0] BAU/mL vs. 2081.0 [IQR 1077.0-3960.0] BAU/mL, respectively; p = 0.01). One participant who was initially seronegative in the control group remained seronegative after the booster dose. These findings suggest humoral immune response benefits of switching the standard immunosuppressive regimen to the regimen of mTORi, TAC, and prednisolone in KTRs during vaccination.

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