Relationship between changes in symptoms and antibody titers after a single vaccination in patients with Long COVID, 2022, Tomoya Tsuchida et al

*note: no control group.

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is spreading worldwide; there is a need to address its sequelae known as Long COVID. This study evaluated post-vaccination changes in symptoms and antibody titers in patients with Long COVID.

Patients visiting the outpatient department specializing in Long COVID at our hospital were enrolled. Changes in symptoms were evaluated before and 14–21 days after first vaccination. Antibody titers were measured using ARCHITECT SARS-CoV-2 IgG II Quant at the same time.

This study included 42 patients (median age: 45 years; 17 [40.5%] men). Median pre- and post-vaccination antibody titers were 456 AU/mL and 28,963 AU/mL, respectively. Post-vaccination symptoms (fatigue, joint pain, and taste and olfactory abnormalities) were relieved, worsened, and unchanged in 7 (16.7%), 9 (21.4%), and 26 (61.9%) patients, respectively. Ratios of pre- and post-vaccination antibody titers were 53, 40, and 174 in the unchanged, relief, and worsened groups, respectively. The worsened group had the significantly highest antibody titer ratio (p = 0.02).

The higher increased rate of the antibody titer in the worsened group than in the non-worsened group suggests an excessive immune response to vaccination associated with worsening of sequelae. Although patients with Long COVID should be vaccinated, additional concerns should be addressed.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jmv.27689