COVID-19 elicits an impaired antibody response against SARS-CoV-2 in patients with haematological malignancies

COVID-19 is associated with high mortality in patients with haematological malignancies (HM) and rate of seroconversion is unknown. The ITA-HEMA-COV project (NCT04352556) investigated patterns of seroconversion for SARS-CoV-2 IgG in patients with HMs. A total of 237 patients, SARS-CoV-2 PCR-positive with at least one SARS-CoV-2 IgG test performed during their care, entered the analysis. Among these, 62 (26 center dot 2%) had myeloid, 121 (51 center dot 1%) lymphoid and 54 (22 center dot 8%) plasma cell neoplasms. Overall, 69% of patients (164 of 237) had detectable IgG SARS-CoV-2 serum antibodies. Serologically negative patients (31%, 73 of 237) were evenly distributed across patients with myeloid, lymphoid and plasma cell neoplasms. In the multivariable logistic regression, chemoimmunotherapy [odds ratio (OR), 3 center dot 42; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1 center dot 04-11 center dot 21; P = 0 center dot 04] was associated with a lower rate of seroconversion. This effect did not decline after 180 days from treatment withdrawal (OR, 0 center dot 35; 95% CI: 0 center dot 11-1 center dot 13; P = 0 center dot 08). This study demonstrates a low rate of seroconversion in HM patients and indicates that treatment-mediated immune dysfunction is the main driver. As a consequence, we expect a low rate of seroconversion after vaccination and thus we suggest testing the efficacy of seroconversion in HM patients.

Automated summary

The study found a low rate of seroconversion in patients with hematological malignancies, possibly due to treatment-mediated immune dysfunction.