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Avidity maturation of anti-spike IgG after vaccination in COVID-19 convalescent vs COVID-19 naïve patients

Löfström, Emma LU ; Eringfält, Anna ; Kötz, Arne ; Tham, Johan LU and Undén, Johan LU (2025) In APMIS 133(1).
Abstract

Antibodies and avidity maturation contribute to long-lasting immunity, and previous COVID-19 seems to enhance the immune response after vaccination. The aim of this study was to compare the immune response after vaccination between COVID-19 convalescents and naïve patients. Blood samples from COVID-19 convalescents and naïve patients, taken 1, 3 and 6 months after the second dose of vaccine (mRNA-vaccine BNT162b2), were analysed for anti-spike IgG and avidity. Questionnaires concerning side effects were used. Thirty-one patients in the COVID-19 cohort and 30 patients in the naïve cohort were included. High levels of anti-spike IgG and avidity index were seen. Anti-spike IgG were significantly higher in the COVID-19 cohort and declining... (More)

Antibodies and avidity maturation contribute to long-lasting immunity, and previous COVID-19 seems to enhance the immune response after vaccination. The aim of this study was to compare the immune response after vaccination between COVID-19 convalescents and naïve patients. Blood samples from COVID-19 convalescents and naïve patients, taken 1, 3 and 6 months after the second dose of vaccine (mRNA-vaccine BNT162b2), were analysed for anti-spike IgG and avidity. Questionnaires concerning side effects were used. Thirty-one patients in the COVID-19 cohort and 30 patients in the naïve cohort were included. High levels of anti-spike IgG and avidity index were seen. Anti-spike IgG were significantly higher in the COVID-19 cohort and declining (median 1250, 566, 282 RU/ml vs 565, 187, 65 RU/ml). Avidity did not change over time (median at 6 months 78% vs 65%). The most common side effects were pain at the injection site, malaise and headache. In conclusion, high levels of anti-spike IgG after vaccination were seen and most patients developed high-avidity antibodies, although antibody levels and avidity were higher in the COVID-19 cohort. Over time, the levels of anti-spike IgG declined, yet avidity remained high. Side effects did not differ between groups and were of short duration.

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author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
anti-spike IgG, Avidity index, COVID-19, immune response, vaccination
in
APMIS
volume
133
issue
1
article number
e13489
publisher
Blackwell Munksgaard
external identifiers
  • pmid:39509082
  • scopus:85208587269
ISSN
0903-4641
DOI
10.1111/apm.13489
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
dd89e2a4-e81e-4991-a384-5c23ae0acdf7
date added to LUP
2025-02-18 08:39:56
date last changed
2025-07-08 20:37:02
@article{dd89e2a4-e81e-4991-a384-5c23ae0acdf7,
  abstract     = {{<p>Antibodies and avidity maturation contribute to long-lasting immunity, and previous COVID-19 seems to enhance the immune response after vaccination. The aim of this study was to compare the immune response after vaccination between COVID-19 convalescents and naïve patients. Blood samples from COVID-19 convalescents and naïve patients, taken 1, 3 and 6 months after the second dose of vaccine (mRNA-vaccine BNT162b2), were analysed for anti-spike IgG and avidity. Questionnaires concerning side effects were used. Thirty-one patients in the COVID-19 cohort and 30 patients in the naïve cohort were included. High levels of anti-spike IgG and avidity index were seen. Anti-spike IgG were significantly higher in the COVID-19 cohort and declining (median 1250, 566, 282 RU/ml vs 565, 187, 65 RU/ml). Avidity did not change over time (median at 6 months 78% vs 65%). The most common side effects were pain at the injection site, malaise and headache. In conclusion, high levels of anti-spike IgG after vaccination were seen and most patients developed high-avidity antibodies, although antibody levels and avidity were higher in the COVID-19 cohort. Over time, the levels of anti-spike IgG declined, yet avidity remained high. Side effects did not differ between groups and were of short duration.</p>}},
  author       = {{Löfström, Emma and Eringfält, Anna and Kötz, Arne and Tham, Johan and Undén, Johan}},
  issn         = {{0903-4641}},
  keywords     = {{anti-spike IgG; Avidity index; COVID-19; immune response; vaccination}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  publisher    = {{Blackwell Munksgaard}},
  series       = {{APMIS}},
  title        = {{Avidity maturation of anti-spike IgG after vaccination in COVID-19 convalescent vs COVID-19 naïve patients}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/apm.13489}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/apm.13489}},
  volume       = {{133}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}