The impact of SARS-CoV2 vaccines on the incidence of graft versus host disease in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients: a single-center retrospective study

Stem Cell Res Ther. 2023 Apr 18;14(1):95. doi: 10.1186/s13287-023-03326-3.

Abstract

This study reports the incidence of chronic graft versus host disease (GvHD) in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (alloHCT) recipients who received SARS-CoV2 vaccination. The overall rates of new and worsening chronic GvHD combined were 14%, with median time from vaccination to GVHD being approximately three to four weeks. A majority of the cases were of mild to moderate severity and primarily localized to either the skin, mouth, or joints. Prior chronic GVHD and recent transplant were associated with higher GVHD rates following COVID-19 vaccination. More prospective studies are needed to provide a definitive mechanism for the impact of SARS-CoV2 vaccination on alloHCT patients.

Keywords: Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation; BNT162b2; COVID-19 vaccine; Graft-versus-host disease; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV2); mRNA-1273.

Publication types

  • Letter

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19 Vaccines* / adverse effects
  • COVID-19* / prevention & control
  • Graft vs Host Disease* / epidemiology
  • Graft vs Host Disease* / etiology
  • Graft vs Host Disease* / prevention & control
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation*
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • RNA, Viral
  • Retrospective Studies
  • SARS-CoV-2

Substances

  • COVID-19 Vaccines
  • RNA, Viral