Antibodies and Covid19 with EGPA

[ElaineRH]

Covid Antibodies after Covid vaccine....I have EGPA and on Mycophenolate and Benralizumab. Had first Covid jab and was subsequently asked to do a Covid antibody test. Unfortunately the test was negative so I haven’t generated any antibodies to Covid19. I haven’t previously had Covid....

Anyone else experienced this?

[PMRpro]

Judging by the research done so far on immunosuppressed patients, there is poor generation of antibodies in 2-3 weeks after the first jab BUT it seems that in the patients used in the study (cancer patients) there is an improvement after the second jab. There are two forms of immunity, the antibody protection and then the T-cell and B-cell response. Not having antibodies does not necessarily mean you have no protection. This of course does call into question the widom of the 12 week gap between vaccines being used in the UK and there have been calls for CEV patients to be given their second jab much sooner. Personally, even though I have had both Moderna jabs, 4 weeks apart, I won't be changing how I live in the foreseeable future - masks and distancing will continue as they did last summer/autumn here in Italy. We did sit for a drink at the village cafe - outside, never inside.

[philtw]

I am going next week for a Anntibody test as I have GPA, i will have had the 1st AZ vaccine 3 weeks by them. Ill let you know the outcome.

[Nell in reply to philtw]

Hi. I’ve had my 1st AZ and mine came back negative too 8 weeks after my jab. Have my 2nd on the 27th April but like PMRPro I won’t be changing what I do re masks etc either

[Dirock in reply to philtw]

Hi - I have GPA too. Are you having the antibody test as part of a trial? I would like this test too and wondered whether you can ask the hospital to to do it along with routine blood tests.

[philtw in reply to Dirock]

I’m in Oman and am paying £20 to get it done for my own curiosity

[Dirock in reply to philtw]

Thanks for your response.

[Dirock]

Thanks for sharing that. I had my second dose of Az this morning and was talking to the (retired) doctor about the possibility of it not working in immunosuppressed people. He didn't know a lot about it so I guess like most of us I just have to stay super cautious for the foreseeable future. I am currently only on a really low daily dose of azathioprine so I would have hoped to develop some antibodies - would be nice to know though!!

[philtw in reply to Dirock]

I’ll share my result and when I get my 2nd dose I will conduct the test again. And share the result.

[Dirock in reply to philtw]

Thanks that would be useful. I will try to to get a test too but I will wait for 3 weeks until my second dose kicks in properly.

[philtw in reply to Dirock]

I will also get the test after the 2nd ose due 3rd June and provide the results, i will aslo send them to my Rhuematologist

[EGPAGuy]

Where are you getting antibody tests? My gp in uk said they couldn't do them.

[Pollie]

Hi...I also have EGPA,but have come off Mycophenolate 2 years ago now, so just take Prednisolone. I had an antibodies test 8 weeks after my first covid jab..and it was negative. The company through which I took the test is BIOBANK which carries out many research projects. I volunteered to do various tests for them several years ago...for Cervical cancer. None of their research is specifically for people with reduced immune systems and I was told a "negative" result for the antibodies was fine..it's part of the research. Hope this helps!

[Galaxy2]

Hi Elaine, sorry for being so slow to reply, I haven’t logged in for a while. I had an antibody test too after my first vaccine dose ( 4 weeks after) and no antibodies detected. I was really disappointed but did have it only 8 weeks after my last rituximab , but had half my normal dose with the vaccine in mind. I should be getting my second dose very soon so hoping that will be more successful.

[lynzer in reply to Galaxy2]

Have you had another antibody test after the second jab? Totally curious

[Galaxy2 in reply to lynzer]

Hi lynzer, sorry only just seen your message. Not I haven’t had another antibody test yet but am next month having a blood test to see if I’ve got any immunity through T cells, so fingers crossed.

[PennyHB]

Hi Elaine, I was tested by the immunology department at Oxford and after two vaccines (Az) I have absolutely no response to them. I also have panhypogammaglobulinemia so I know that my immunoglobulin levels are in my boots, so I wasn’t surprised. I’m jumping through the hoops to see if I can qualify for IVIG infusions in the coming year. Then I might inherit some antibodies from donors . Really scary with the levels of Covid still floating about.

[ElaineRH in reply to PennyHB]

Hi, thanks for your response. How does the qualifying for the infusions occur. Still no antibodies after both vaccines and due booster in a couple of weeks.

[PennyHB]

Hi…. I will qualify for an application for IVIG funding after two years on Prophylactic antibiotics as I have a chest infection roughly every four weeks. As I have panhypogammaglobulinemia, My IgG, IgA and IgG are all way, way below the normal ranges. As it is extremely expensive and created through thousands of plasma donations… you are made to jump through hoops to qualify for funding. My immunologist told me that patients who are already on infusions are having to have half doses at the moment due to Covid (reduction in donations. Good luck