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An Adoptive Transfer Model of Rheumatoid Arthritis in Mice
Published on: June 6, 2025
Immunomodulators and risk for breakthrough infection after third COVID-19 mRNA vaccine among patients with rheumatoid
Abigail E Schiff1,2, Xiaosong Wang3, Naomi J Patel4,2
1Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA (60 Fenwood Road, Boston, MA, 02115).
Objectives:
To investigate COVID-19 breakthrough infection after third mRNA vaccine dose among patients with RA by immunomodulator drug class, and we hypothesized that CD20 inhibitors (CD20i) would have higher risk for breakthrough COVID-19 vs. TNF inhibitors (TNFi).
Methods:
We performed a retrospective cohort study investigating breakthrough COVID-19 among RA patients at Mass General Brigham in Boston, MA, USA. Patients were followed from the date of 3rd vaccine dose until breakthrough COVID-19, death, or end of follow-up (18/Jan/2023). Covariates included demographics, lifestyle, comorbidities, and prior COVID-19. We used Cox proportional hazards models to estimate breakthrough COVID-19 risk by immunomodulator drug class. We used propensity score (PS) overlap-weighting to compare users of CD20i vs. TNFi.
Results:
We analyzed 5781 patients with RA that received 3 mRNA vaccine doses (78.8% female, mean age 64.2 years). During mean follow-up of 12.8 months, 1173 (20.2%) had breakthrough COVID_19. Use of CD20i (adjusted HR 1.74, 95%CI 1.30-2.33) and glucocorticoid monotherapy (adjusted HR 1.47, 95%CI 1.09-1.98) were each associated with breakthrough COVID-19 compared to TNFi use. In the PS overlap-weighted analysis, CD20i users also had higher breakthrough COVID-19 risk than TNFi users (HR 1.62, 95%CI 1.02-2.56). A sensitivity analysis excluding patients with cancer or interstitial lung disease yielded similar findings.
Conclusions:
We identified CD20i and glucocorticoid monotherapy as risk factors for breakthrough COVID-19 among patients with RA after a 3rd vaccine dose. This contemporary study highlights the real-world impact of blunted immune responses in these subgroups and the need for effective risk mitigation strategies.
Insights
Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) on CD20 inhibitors or glucocorticoids face higher COVID-19 risks after three vaccine doses. These findings emphasize the need for targeted risk mitigation strategies for these vulnerable RA patient groups.
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients often require immunomodulatory drugs.
- The effectiveness of mRNA vaccines in RA patients, particularly after a third dose, requires further investigation regarding breakthrough infections.
- Specific drug classes may influence vaccine response and infection risk.
Conclusions:
- CD20 inhibitors and glucocorticoid monotherapy are identified as risk factors for breakthrough COVID-19 in RA patients post-third mRNA vaccine dose.
- This study highlights the real-world impact of diminished immune responses in specific RA patient subgroups.
- Effective risk mitigation strategies are crucial for RA patients on these immunomodulatory therapies to prevent severe COVID-19 outcomes.
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