Assessment of Immune Response After Vaccination Against COVID-19 in Patients Treated With Renal Replacement Therapy (COViNEPH-1)

Multi Center Study to Assess the Humoral and Cellular Response After Vaccination Against COVID-19 in Patients Treated With Renal Replacement Therapy

Chronically dialyzed patients and kidney transplant recipients have been identified as particularly vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2 infection due to unavoidable exposure. They have also high rates of comorbid conditions and have varying degrees of immunosuppression, which puts them at risk of developing very severe forms of COVID-19 disease with fatality rates varying from 16% to 32%. In such circumstances vaccination is the only chance to improve their extremely poor prognosis. There is very little published data on the response to vaccination in dialyzed patients and kidney transplant recipients so far. No data are available on the efficacy of vaccines against COVID-19 in patients treated with peritoneal dialysis (PD). Furthermore, given the fact that disturbances of acquired immunity in dialyzed patients are many and diverse it is uncertain whether vaccinating against SARS CoV-2 in these population will result in sufficient immune response and, by consequence, protection against infection. Registration studies on the basis of which population vaccinations are actually conducted were performed only in the general population. There were no dialyzed patients and kidney transplant recipients in the study groups, so these patients are vaccinated with doses and schedules for people without chronic kidney disease. It is not known whether vaccination under such standard schedule produces a sufficient immune response in them and how long it lasts. That's why the aim of this study is to evaluate the humoral and cellular immune response after mRNA vaccine against COVID-19 with which patients treated with renal replacement therapy are vaccinated in Poland. It will be a prospective, observational controlled study conducted in patients treated with renal replacement therapy (hemodialyzed subjects, patients treated with peritoneal dialysis and kidney transplant recipients) vaccinated with mRNA vaccine against COVID-19 according to common rules and manufactures recommendations.The control group will be made up of sex and age matched people without chronic kidney disease.The first goal of the study is to analyze seroconversion rate and titer magnitude of neutralizing IgG and IgA antibodies directed against spike (s) SARS-CoV-2 antigen after the first and the second dose of mRNA vaccine as well as after 3, 6, 9, 12 months after vaccination. The second goal is to evaluate the cellular immune response tested using the ELISPOT method at the same time points as above.The immune response will be compared to patients without chronic kidney disease as well as between hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis patients and kidney transplant recipients.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Covid19; Vaccine Adverse Reaction; Vaccine Reaction; Kidney Failure, Chronic
• Intervention / Treatment: Diagnostic test: Immune response; Other: Solicited common and expected adverse reactions shortly following vaccination (reactogenicity), use of antipyretic or pain medications and unsolicited adverse events and serious adverse events

Detailed Description

1. Venous blood samples will be collected at seven-time points: before dose 1 of vaccine, 21 days after dose 1, within 14-21 days after dose 2 and 3,6,9,12 months after vaccination. From the volume of about 8 ml of the patient's peripheral blood, a fraction of PBMC (peripheral blood mononuclear cells) will be isolated, which in the first stage of the study will be frozen in nitrogen. To generate serum, blood samples were centrifuged at room temperature at 2500 RPM for 10 minutes, aliquoted, frozen in -70˚C, and stored until use.
2. The level of antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) antigen will be detected in serum using the Abbot Architect™SARS-CoV-2 IgG test.
3. The level of neutralizing IgG and IgA antibodies against the SARS-CoV (S1 and S2 subunits) (S) will be detected in serum using the DiaSorin LIAISON®SARS-CoV-2 S1/S2 IgG serology COVID-19 S-Protein (S1RBD) Human IgA ELISA Kit respectively.
4. The cellular component of the immune response will be tested using the ELISPOT method, which involves testing the amount of INF-γ and IL-2 released from leukocyte cells.
5. The grading scales for side effects (the same as in the pivotal trial) used in this study were derived from the FDA Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) guidelines on toxicity grading scales for healthy adult volunteers enrolled in preventive vaccine clinical trials.
6. All medical data of patients from all groups will be extracted from their medical records.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 180

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Leszek Tylicki, MD PhD; Phone Number: 0048583492830; Email: leszek.tylicki@gumed.edu.pl

Study Locations

• Poland
  • Gdańsk, Poland
    • Recruiting
    • 7th Naval Hospital in Gdansk
    • Contact: Ewelina Puchalska-Reglińska, MD; Email: e.puchalska@7szmw.pl
  • Gdynia, Poland
    • Recruiting
    • NZOZ Diaverum Gdynia
    • Contact: Waldemar Ślizień, MD PhD; Email: waldemar.slizien@diaverum.com
  • Gdynia, Poland
    • Recruiting
    • The University Centre of Maritime and Tropical Medicine in Gdynia
    • Contact: Marcin Renke, MD PhD; Email: mrenke@gumed.edu.pl
  • Pomorskie
    • Gdansk, Pomorskie, Poland, 80-211
      • Recruiting
      • Medical University of Gdansk
      • Contact: Leszek Tylicki, MD PhD; Phone Number: +48583492830; Email: leszek.tylicki@gumed.edu.pl
      • Sub-Investigator: Bogdan P Biedunkiewicz, MD PhD
      • Sub-Investigator: Alicja Dębska-Ślizień, MD PhD

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Patients will be recruited in:

1. Department of Nephrology Transplantology and Internal Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk.
2. NZOZ Diaverum Hemodialysis Unit in Gdynia.
3. The University Centre of Maritime and Tropical Medicine in Gdynia
4. 7th Naval Hospital in Gdansk

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• patients on chronic dialysis (hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis) for at least 1 months and had received vaccination with mRNA vaccine BNT162b2 (BionTech/Pfizer Comirnaty) with a 3-week interval between first and second doses.

Exclusion Criteria:

• (-)

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

4

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Hemodialyzed patients; Hemodialyzed patients vaccinated with BNT162b2 - mRNA vaccine against COVID-19	Diagnostic test: Immune response; Venous blood samples will be collected at seven-time points: before dose 1 of vaccine, 21 days after dose 1, within 14-21 days after dose 2 and 3,6,9,12 months after vaccination. From the volume of about 8 ml of the patient's peripheral blood, a fraction of PBMC (peripheral blood mononuclear cells) will be isolated.; The level of antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) antigen will be detected in serum using the Abbot Architect™SARS-CoV-2 IgG test.; The level of neutralizing IgG and IgA antibodies against the SARS-CoV (S1 and S2 subunits) (S) will be detected in serum using the DiaSorin LIAISON®SARS-CoV-2 S1/S2 IgG serology COVID-19 S-Protein (S1RBD) Human IgA ELISA Kit respectively.; The cellular component of the immune response will be tested using the ELISPOT method, which involves testing the amount of INF-γ and IL-2 released from leukocyte cells.; Other: Solicited common and expected adverse reactions shortly following vaccination (reactogenicity), use of antipyretic or pain medications and unsolicited adverse events and serious adverse events; The grading scales for side effects used in this study will derive from the FDA Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research guidelines on toxicity grading scales for volunteers enrolled in preventive vaccine clinical trials. Solicited reactions will be obtained 7 days after the first and the second dose, and 30 days after the final vaccination. Unsolicited adverse events and serious adverse events will be observed recorded through 1 month after the second dose
Patients treated with peritoneal dialysis; Patients treated with peritoneal dialysis vaccinated with BNT162b2 - mRNA vaccine against COVID-19	Diagnostic test: Immune response; Venous blood samples will be collected at seven-time points: before dose 1 of vaccine, 21 days after dose 1, within 14-21 days after dose 2 and 3,6,9,12 months after vaccination. From the volume of about 8 ml of the patient's peripheral blood, a fraction of PBMC (peripheral blood mononuclear cells) will be isolated.; The level of antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) antigen will be detected in serum using the Abbot Architect™SARS-CoV-2 IgG test.; The level of neutralizing IgG and IgA antibodies against the SARS-CoV (S1 and S2 subunits) (S) will be detected in serum using the DiaSorin LIAISON®SARS-CoV-2 S1/S2 IgG serology COVID-19 S-Protein (S1RBD) Human IgA ELISA Kit respectively.; The cellular component of the immune response will be tested using the ELISPOT method, which involves testing the amount of INF-γ and IL-2 released from leukocyte cells.; Other: Solicited common and expected adverse reactions shortly following vaccination (reactogenicity), use of antipyretic or pain medications and unsolicited adverse events and serious adverse events; The grading scales for side effects used in this study will derive from the FDA Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research guidelines on toxicity grading scales for volunteers enrolled in preventive vaccine clinical trials. Solicited reactions will be obtained 7 days after the first and the second dose, and 30 days after the final vaccination. Unsolicited adverse events and serious adverse events will be observed recorded through 1 month after the second dose
Patients without chronic kidney disease; Patients without chronic kidney disease vaccinated with mRNA BNT162b2 - vaccine against COVID-19	Diagnostic test: Immune response; Venous blood samples will be collected at seven-time points: before dose 1 of vaccine, 21 days after dose 1, within 14-21 days after dose 2 and 3,6,9,12 months after vaccination. From the volume of about 8 ml of the patient's peripheral blood, a fraction of PBMC (peripheral blood mononuclear cells) will be isolated.; The level of antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) antigen will be detected in serum using the Abbot Architect™SARS-CoV-2 IgG test.; The level of neutralizing IgG and IgA antibodies against the SARS-CoV (S1 and S2 subunits) (S) will be detected in serum using the DiaSorin LIAISON®SARS-CoV-2 S1/S2 IgG serology COVID-19 S-Protein (S1RBD) Human IgA ELISA Kit respectively.; The cellular component of the immune response will be tested using the ELISPOT method, which involves testing the amount of INF-γ and IL-2 released from leukocyte cells.; Other: Solicited common and expected adverse reactions shortly following vaccination (reactogenicity), use of antipyretic or pain medications and unsolicited adverse events and serious adverse events; The grading scales for side effects used in this study will derive from the FDA Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research guidelines on toxicity grading scales for volunteers enrolled in preventive vaccine clinical trials. Solicited reactions will be obtained 7 days after the first and the second dose, and 30 days after the final vaccination. Unsolicited adverse events and serious adverse events will be observed recorded through 1 month after the second dose
Kidney transplant recipients; Kidney transplant recipients vaccinated with mRNA vaccine against COVID-19	Diagnostic test: Immune response; Venous blood samples will be collected at seven-time points: before dose 1 of vaccine, 21 days after dose 1, within 14-21 days after dose 2 and 3,6,9,12 months after vaccination. From the volume of about 8 ml of the patient's peripheral blood, a fraction of PBMC (peripheral blood mononuclear cells) will be isolated.; The level of antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) antigen will be detected in serum using the Abbot Architect™SARS-CoV-2 IgG test.; The level of neutralizing IgG and IgA antibodies against the SARS-CoV (S1 and S2 subunits) (S) will be detected in serum using the DiaSorin LIAISON®SARS-CoV-2 S1/S2 IgG serology COVID-19 S-Protein (S1RBD) Human IgA ELISA Kit respectively.; The cellular component of the immune response will be tested using the ELISPOT method, which involves testing the amount of INF-γ and IL-2 released from leukocyte cells.; Other: Solicited common and expected adverse reactions shortly following vaccination (reactogenicity), use of antipyretic or pain medications and unsolicited adverse events and serious adverse events; The grading scales for side effects used in this study will derive from the FDA Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research guidelines on toxicity grading scales for volunteers enrolled in preventive vaccine clinical trials. Solicited reactions will be obtained 7 days after the first and the second dose, and 30 days after the final vaccination. Unsolicited adverse events and serious adverse events will be observed recorded through 1 month after the second dose

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Humoral immune response	Neutralizing IgG antibodies against the SARS-CoV (S1 and S2 subunits) (S)	12 months (7 time points)
Humoral immune response	Neutralizing IgA antibodies against the SARS-CoV (S1 and S2 subunits) (S)	12 months (7 time points)
The cellular immune response.	Testing the amount of INF-γ and IL- 2 released from leukocyte cells in response to stimulation with S proteins	12 months (7 time points)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Solicited and unsolicited local and systemic reactogenicity	Solicited common and expected adverse reactions shortly following vaccination (reactogenicity), use of antipyretic or pain medications and unsolicited adverse events and serious adverse events, i.e. those reported by the participants without prompts from the medical staff or observed by their physicians through 1 month after the second dose.	Until 1 month after the second dose

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Medical University of Gdansk

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Piotrowska M, Zielinski M, Tylicki L, Biedunkiewicz B, Kubanek A, Slizien Z, Polewska K, Tylicki P, Muchlado M, Sakowska J, Renke M, Sudol A, Dabrowska M, Lichodziejewska-Niemierko M, Smiatacz T, Debska-Slizien A, Trzonkowski P. Local and Systemic Immunity Are Impaired in End-Stage-Renal-Disease Patients Treated With Hemodialysis, Peritoneal Dialysis and Kidney Transplant Recipients Immunized With BNT162b2 Pfizer-BioNTech SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine. Front Immunol. 2022 Jul 22;13:832924. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.832924. eCollection 2022.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): February 15, 2021
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): August 31, 2022
• Study Completion (Anticipated): December 31, 2022

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 27, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 27, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): May 28, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): February 4, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 3, 2022
• Last Verified: August 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Vaccine; COVID-19; Immunity; Dialysis; Kidney transplant recipient
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Coronavirus Infections; Coronaviridae Infections; Nidovirales Infections; RNA Virus Infections; Virus Diseases; Infections; Respiratory Tract Infections; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Pneumonia, Viral; Pneumonia; Lung Diseases; Kidney Diseases; Urologic Diseases; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic; COVID-19; Kidney Failure, Chronic; Renal Insufficiency; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Peripheral Nervous System Agents; Sensory System Agents; Analgesics; Antipyretics
• Other Study ID Numbers: COViNEPH-1

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No