COVID-19 vaccines promising in multiple myeloma patients

Vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 appears to lead to favourable outcomes in multiple myeloma (MM) patients who contract the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), even in the presence of negative prognostic factors, a recent study has found.

“However, vaccinated MM patients remain at risk of acquiring SARS-CoV-2, so their continuous monitoring and testing is advisable. Furthermore, they should continue to practice strict ongoing protective measures, as well as prioritize vaccination for family members and caregivers, particularly in light of the worldwide worrisome spread of SARS-CoV-2 variants,” the researchers said.

The preliminary study looked at five MM patients with quantitative polymerase chain reaction-confirmed COVID-19. All participants had received two vaccine doses. Viral genotype analysis showed that four patients harboured the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2, while one had the Alpha variant, reflecting the epidemiological distribution of variants at the time.

Only one patient had available data regarding serum titres of antispike immunoglobulin (Ig) G antibodies, showing a median value of 828 AU/mL 4 weeks after the second dose. While this was much lower than in healthy controls, antispike IgG titres rose to 26,710 AU/mL 2 months after SARS-CoV-2 infection.

In terms of comorbidities, two patients had immunoparesis and lympopaenia, though only one showed very low counts of B-lymphocytes. Other comorbidities and correlates of severe COVID-19 were also common. Nevertheless, four patients showed very few or no symptoms and did not need hospitalization. Only one patient, who had undergone kidney transplantation, needed hospitalization, but whose case resolved promptly.