Researchers at New York City-based Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai found promising outcomes in inflammatory bowel disease patients' responses to mRNA COVID-19 vaccines.
The study, "Serological response to mRNA COVID-19 vaccines in IBD patients receiving biological therapies," is the first study of antibody responses in IBD patients taking biologics, according to an April 21 news release. The findings were published in Gastroenterology.
Researchers collected blood samples from 48 patients who received either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. All the patients who completed two doses had a positive antibody response, and 85 percent of them achieved index levels qualifying them for convalescent plasma donation.
The findings provide clarity since IBD patients were excluded from clinical trials of the vaccine.
"Our patients want to know which vaccine we recommend, whether they should wait for studies to be done, and whether they should put their infusions on hold if they do get vaccinated," co-author Jean-Frederic Colombel, MD, said. "The short answer is that the best vaccine is really the one you can get the soonest. It is not wise to wait or put vaccinations on hold and IBD patients should absolutely continue on their biologics without interruption."