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Cancer

Reduced Antibody Response to COVID-19 Vaccination in Cancer and Arthritis Patients on Rituximab Treatment

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

A new study conducted by researchers from the University of Wolverhampton, the University of Birmingham, and the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust has found that patients with blood cancer or arthritis who are treated with Rituximab, a widely used drug that targets B cells, have a significantly reduced antibody response to double COVID-19 vaccination in the first six months of treatment. The study, published in the Clinical & Experimental Immunology journal, aimed to investigate whether Rituximab affects the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines. The researchers collected blood samples from 80 patients with blood cancers and 36 patients with arthritis, and compared the results with a control group of healthy age-matched healthcare workers.

Key Takeaways:

  • Only 42.2% of patients with blood cancers and 33.3% of patients with arthritis developed an antibody response to double vaccination in the first six months following treatment with Rituximab.
  • The strength of the antibody response was much lower in those with blood cancer or arthritis compared to the healthy cohort.
  • Six months after treatment, the antibody response increased to 100% in blood cancer patients, while in arthritis patients, vaccine responsiveness improved with a greater gap between vaccine and drug treatment.
  • Similar quality and strength in antibody response were observed with both types of COVID-19 vaccines and across both groups of patients.
  • However, a shorter interval between the first and second vaccine significantly improved the quality and strength of antibody response in blood cancer patients.

Statistics:

  • 42.2% of patients with blood cancers developed an antibody response to double vaccination in the first six months following treatment with Rituximab.
  • 33.3% of patients with arthritis developed an antibody response to double vaccination in the first six months following treatment with Rituximab.
  • 100% of blood cancer patients showed an antibody response six months after treatment.
  • Patients with a greater gap between vaccine and drug treatment showed progressive increases in overall vaccine responsiveness.

Sources:

  • University of Wolverhampton, "Certain blood cancer and arthritis patients have a significantly reduced antibody response to double COVID-19 vaccination in the first six months of being treated with a widely used drug" (January 28).
  • Clinical & Experimental Immunology, "Reduced antibody response to COVID-19 vaccination in patients treated with rituximab" (2022).
  • The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, "Rituximab and COVID-19 vaccination: a study from the University of Wolverhampton" (December 11, 2021).
  • University of Birmingham, "Understanding the effects of rituximab on COVID-19 vaccination" (December 11, 2021).

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