Posted on 12/28/2021 8:31:11 PM PST by ConservativeMind
Kidney transplant recipients tend to mount impaired antibody responses against emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants after standard two-dose COVID-19 vaccination, according to new research published in CJASN. This is true even for transplant recipients with detectable antibody responses against the original SARS-CoV-2 strain in commercially available assays.
Because kidney transplant recipients are at high risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection and more severe COVID-19 disease, SARS-CoV-2 vaccination is strongly recommended in these patients. Studies indicate that kidney transplant recipients mount lower antibody responses following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination compared with healthy individuals, however.
Following vaccination, fewer kidney transplant recipients developed neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 than healthy controls. After the second vaccine dose, anti-S1, anti-receptor-binding domain, and surrogate neutralizing antibodies—all different types of antibodies against various aspects of SARS-CoV-2—were detectable in 30%, 27%, and 24% of kidney transplant recipients, respectively. This compared with 100%, 96%, and 100% in healthy controls.
Neutralization against B.1.1.7 (alpha) was detectable in all 36 of 173 kidney transplant recipients who mounted antibody responses against the original SARS-CoV-2 strain. However, when these 36 kidney transplant recipients were tested for their antibody responses to emerging variants after vaccination, only 64% and 67% showed neutralization against B.1.351 (beta) and B.1.617.2 (delta), respectively. Neutralization against different variants was significantly higher in healthy controls, with all individuals showing neutralization against all tested variants.
"We discovered that a large proportion of kidney transplant recipients is not adequately protected against the emerging variants B.1.351 (beta) and B.1.617.2 (delta) with the standard vaccination regimens currently used in the healthy general population," said Dr. Speer. "Additional vaccinations appear to be required in kidney transplant recipients to maintain high levels of neutralizing antibodies, especially when B.1.617.2 (delta) or other variants with partial escape from neutralizing antibodies are prevalent."
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
More doses appear needed, but it would require a doctor to help get them.
FTA....
To investigate, a team led by Claudius Speer, MD (Heidelberg University Hospital, in Germany) conducted a prospective two-center study of 173 kidney transplant recipients and 166 healthy controls with different SARS-CoV-2 vaccination schedules between December 2020 and June 2021.
Following vaccination, fewer kidney transplant recipients developed neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 than healthy controls. After the second vaccine dose, anti-S1, anti-receptor-binding domain, and surrogate neutralizing antibodies—all different types of antibodies against various aspects of SARS-CoV-2—were detectable in 30%, 27%, and 24% of kidney transplant recipients, respectively. This compared with 100%, 96%, and 100% in healthy controls....
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Why not give these recipients safe and effective preventatives, rather than more and more of these shots?
Unfortunately, I’m CKD and eligible for transplant. However, after my mild bout of COVID over a year ago, I’m holding on to natural immunity. That’s going to preclude me from asking for or expecting a clean kidney - unless I can find a donor (which stands alone as its own challenge, cuz I’d prefer a cadaver kidney rather than put another at unknown risk). The choice will be clean living and proper diet. This whole thing’s gotten too messy.
Kidney transplant patients take immunosuppressant drugs. And maybe for the rest of their lives. I would think that an impaired antibody response is pretty common.
I’ve had CKD for decades but not a type that will lead to failure and transplant. It tries to kill me in a whole different fashion. Vaccines can trigger it. But so can viral infections. I took the Moderna last spring with no problem. Then right before I was due for the booster the disease relapsed and scuttled that plan. Fate intervened.
Good luck to you, I hope you get one soon. I have a friend who is on the waiting list for a new kidney- he lost one to cancer, and the other one isn’t doing that great. He’s been doing home dialysis.
👍👍👍
Thank you, T115! Best wishes to your friend! That’s a harder road he’s facing, so I really hope he gets that transplant! If you think of it, please let me know how he gets along with his (hopefully) new kidney. That should be exciting! Please also let him know about “Dadvice” on YouTube. That guy is really inspirational and has helped many get off dialysis.
Stage 4 CKD here, just started the transplant paperwork process to evaluate whether the center will accept/list me for transplant. Not to the dialysis stage yet so the “Dadvice” recommendation is appreciated. Thanks!
I’m never getting another shot again. Period. I think it actually did damage to my immune system and is killing my kidney as a result.
I already had it, and I’m sure I’ll get it repeatedly. I’m not going to fret over it anymore. I got over it once without hospitalization, and I’ll do it again.
I will tell him, thanks!
Please keep us updated as to your status.
Waiting can be frustrating- I can tell you from experience, I received a new liver back in May after waiting four long years. I didn’t think it would happen, but it did. I am doing great. It will happen for you, too. Keep praying, and have a positive attitude!
I am going to check out Dadvice for myself, as well.
God Bless!
Please see my post #6. All my best to you, please keep us updated.
My best wishes and prayers to you, maybe your meds are too strong?
All my labs are nominal, except for my iron. I am chronically anemic, even with iron supplements. I have Thallassemia minor and have had it all my life.
Hopefully it will stabilize for you.
At the recommendation of my brothers transplant team (liver not kidney) he has both shots and booster. Last blood work showed no antibodies from vaccines. We just figured antirejection meds are doing what they are suppose to do.
Hi T-Bird! Thanks for sharing that! I'm glad you're starting the paperwork to get on the list! Yeah, I love "Dadadvice". There are some really inspirational and motivational stores about other CKD 4 - like both you and me - who have modified their diets to raise their GFR. My problem was (is) HBP and not knowing for 2 solid decades, because I had no symptoms and was too ignorant or lazy to go get a checkup. Please keep in touch and let me know your progress!!
Wow! That is great news! I can’t imagine what you must have went through with your transplant! That seems to make a kidney op a walk in the park in comparison. That’s so great that you’re doing so well! It was a year ago, August, that I got sent to the ICU because we didn’t know what was wrong. I thought for sure, after decades of beer drinking and heavy drinking in college, that it would be a liver problem. Well, they did tests and - to my shock - the Dr said “No, your liver is great. You could donate it, if you wanted to.” Life can be so ironic. Again, thanks for sharing your story. That gives me much more courage. Best, Billy
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My liver was failing because my immune system was attacking it. I used to drink, too, but I was told alcohol had nothing to do with it, but I had to quit to be on “the list”. I still don’t drink, because of the meds I’m on, and the doctors prefer I don’t for the health of my new liver. I feel better every morning.
But more importantly, someone died for me to receive this extraordinary gift, and I would be dis-respecting that person’s memory if I started drinking again.
At least that’s how I look at it.
There is a family out there somewhere who just spent their first Christmas without their loved one, I feel I owe this to them as well.
Love hearing that!! I was a huge fan of the late Larry Hagman, who had a transplant due to heavy drinking. It didn’t take long before he began abusing his new liver. I was so disappointed in his autopsy. Anyway, there’s a special place in Heaven for your attitude and gratefulness of your gift - and of the donor & family!
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