The T-cell response to SARS-CoV- 2 vaccination persists beyond six months in rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with rituximab
Authors' conclusion
Even if RTX treatment prevented the SARS-CoV- 2 vaccine-dependent antibody response in RA patients, a strong spike protein-specific T-cell-mediated response that persisted for up to 18 months after the last SARS-CoV- 2 boost was found in RA RTX patients.
Study context
- Population
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients who had received at least one dose of the SARS-CoV- 2 mRNA vaccine; T-cell response assessed 3–18 months after the last SARS-CoV- 2 boost (last vaccination or infection)
- Participants
- 51 vs 24
- Exposure
- RA patients treated with rituximab (RTX) vs RA patients treated with other disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs)
- RA RTXn = 51
- Non-RTXn = 24reference
- Outcome
- Persistence of spike-specific T-cell response after the last SARS-CoV-2 boost (main finding)
- Follow-up
- Up to 18 months
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Persistence of spike-specific T-cell response · up to 18 months after the last SARS-CoV- 2 boost
- T-cell response remarkably persisted up to 18 months after the last SARS-CoV- 2 boost
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | P value |
|---|---|
| Mean antibody titerLower mean antibody titer in RA RTX | P = 0.034 |
| Spike-specific CD4 + and CD8 + T-cell responsesGreater spike-specific CD8 + T-cell response in RA RTX | P < 0.001 |
| COVID- 19 severityNo difference | P = 0.770 |
Spike-specific CD4 + and CD8 + T-cell responses
- All patients exhibited CD4 + and CD8 + T-cell spike protein-specific responses
Original publication
The T-cell response to SARS-CoV- 2 vaccination persists beyond six months in rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with rituximab. Arthritis Res Ther. Published 16 April 2025. doi:10.
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