Introduction: Vaccines generally have reduced effectiveness in hemodialysis patients and a similar condition may also apply for the SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. The aim of this study was to analyze humoral responses of hemodialysis patients to SARS-CoV-2 vaccines.
Methods: Eighty-five maintenance hemodialysis patients who received either inactivated or mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccines were investigated. Antibody levels were measured by a commercial antibody kit, which detected antibodies toward receptor binding domain of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Comparative analyzes were carried between vaccine groups and with a control group of 103 healthy volunteers.
Results: Seropositivity rate and antibody levels were significantly lower in hemodialysis patients who received inactivated vaccine (p = 0.000). While mRNA vaccine had better immunogenicity, both vaccines protected from symptomatic infection when seropositivity was achieved.
Discussion/conclusion: When used in the same dose with the general population, inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccines generate reduced humoral response in hemodialysis patients. mRNA vaccines have better immunogenicity in this group.
Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; hemodialysis; immunization; vaccine.
© 2021 International Society for Apheresis, Japanese Society for Apheresis, and Japanese Society for Dialysis Therapy.