COVID-19 Breakthrough Infections in Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases: Data from the SUCCEED (Safety and Immunogenicity of COVID-19 Vaccines in Systemic Autoimmune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases) Study.

Background

The Safety and Immunogenicity of COVID-19 Vaccines in Systemic Autoimmune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases (SUCCEED) study was created to better understand COVID-19 vaccination in immune-mediated inflammatory disease (IMID). Knowing the frequency of COVID-19 breakthrough infections is important, particularly in IMID. Our objective was to assess these events in IMID.

Methods

We prospectively studied IMID participants who had received ≥three COVID-19 vaccine doses. Individuals provided saliva samples monthly (September 2022 to August 2023). These were evaluated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for SARS-CoV-2. We also assessed antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 (anti-spike, SmT1, receptor binding domain, RBD, and nucleocapsid, NP) based on dried blood spots. Multivariable general estimating equation regression produced odd ratios (OR) for PCR SARS-CoV-2 positivity, related to demographics, immunosuppressives, and antibody levels.

Results

Diagnoses included rheumatoid arthritis RA (N = 161, 44% of the total), systemic lupus, psoriatic arthritis, spondylarthritis, vasculitis, systemic sclerosis, and inflammatory bowel disease. Of the 366 participants, most were taking immunosuppressive medication. Of 1266 saliva samples, 56 (5.1%) were positive for SARS-CoV-2 on PCR. Higher anti-SmT1 antibodies were inversely associated with SARS-CoV-2 detection on PCR (adjusted OR 0.66, 95% confidence interval 0.45-0.97). Antibodies to SmT1, RBD, and NP were correlated and thus could not be included in a single model, but when anti-RBD was used in place of anti-SmT1, the results were similar. No other factor (including prior COVID-19 infection) was clearly associated with SARS-CoV-2 detection.

Conclusions

This is the first study of SARS-CoV-2 in a large prospective cohort of triple (or more) vaccinated individuals with IMIDs. Anti-SmT1 antibodies appeared to be protective against later SARS-CoV-2 positivity, although recent past infection was not clearly related. This suggests the importance of maintaining robust vaccine-induced immunity through vaccination in IMID.