Clin Res Cardiol (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00392-023-02180-w

SARS-CoV-2 vaccination-induced immunogenicity in heart transplant recipients
S. T. Küppers1, F. Memenga2, K. Borof1, P. Kirchhof1, P. Duengelhoef3, M. Barten4, M. Luetgehetmann3, F. Berisha2, N. Fluschnik2, P. M. Becher5, C. Kondziella1, A. M. Bernhardt4, H. Reichenspurner4, S. Blankenberg1, C. Magnussen1, M. Rybczynski2
1Klinik für Kardiologie, Universitäres Herz- und Gefäßzentrum Hamburg, Hamburg; 2Allgemeine und Interventionelle Kardiologie, Universitäres Herz- und Gefäßzentrum Hamburg, Hamburg; 3Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg; 4Klinik und Poliklinik für Herz- und Gefäßchirurgie, Universitäres Herz- und Gefäßzentrum Hamburg, Hamburg; 5Klinik und Poliklinik für Kardiologie, Universitäres Herz- und Gefäßzentrum Hamburg, Hamburg;

Aim:
Among heart transplant (HT) recipients, a reduced immunological response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination has been reported. We aimed to assess the humoral and T-cell response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in HT recipients to understand determinants of immunogenicity. 
Methods:
HT recipients were prospectively enrolled from January 2021 until March 2022. Anti-SARS-CoV-2-Spike IgG levels were quantified after two and three doses of a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (BNT162b2, mRNA1273, or AZD1222). Spike-specific T-cell responses were assessed using flow cytometry. 
Results:
Ninety-one patients were included in the study (69% male, median age 55 years, median time from HT to first vaccination 6.1 years). Seroconversion rates were 34% after two and 63% after three doses. Older patient age (p=0.003) and shorter time since HT (p=0.001) were associated with lower antibody concentrations after three vaccinations. There were no associations between vaccine types or immunosuppressive regimens and humoral response, except for prednisolone, which was predictive of a reduced response after two (p=0.001), but not after three doses (p=0.434). A T-cell response was observed in 50% after two and in 74% after three doses.
Conclusion:
Despite three vaccine doses, a large proportion of HT recipients exhibits a reduced immune response. Additional strategies are desirable to improve vaccine immunogenicity in this vulnerable group of patients.


https://dgk.org/kongress_programme/jt2023/aP1722.html