Factors associated with IgG titers against SARS-CoV-2 spike protein after second vaccination in people living with HIV controlled with anti-retroviral therapy.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to identify factors associated with the response to the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in people living with HIV (PLWH).

METHODS

This study was conducted at the Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. IgG antibodies against spike and nucleocapsid proteins were detected using Abbott SARS-CoV-2 IgG II Quant assays.

RESULTS

During the investigation period, 371 PLWH were enrolled in this study. PLWH with previous COVID-19 infection, untreated or poorly controlled HIV infection, and those whose blood samples were obtained within less than seven days after the second vaccination were excluded. A total of 310 PLWH controlled with anti-retroviral therapy were included in the final analysis. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that chronic kidney disease (CKD) (β = -0.353, p = 0.049) and the duration between the second vaccination and blood sampling (β = -0.005, p < 0.001) were associated with low spike protein IgG titers.

CONCLUSION

Even without hemodialysis or kidney transplant, CKD was associated with vaccine response in PLWH.