Cause of rapid loss of vaccination protection in autoimmune diseases identified

People who are treated with TNF-α inhibitors for their autoimmune disease such as Crohn's disease or rheumatoid arthritis lose their vaccination protection significantly earlier than average. The mechanism underlying the early decrease in antibody levels has now been eludicated by a scientific team from MedUni Vienna. In view of the results, principal investigator Ursula Wiedermann-Schmidt emphasises the importance of regular boosters for those affected. The research work has just been published in the specialist journal eBioMedicine. The study was conducted by the Centre for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology in cooperation with the Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology of the University Department of Internal Medicine III. Patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis and healthy controls were administered a SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination and a booster after six months. Subsequent analyses showed that people receiving TNF-α blocker therapy had significantly lower antibody levels than healthy subjects and IBD patients receiving another form of treatment (α4'7-integrin antagonists).