Increased EBV DNAemia after Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination in Solid Organ Transplants

doi:10.3390/vaccines10070992

. 2022 Jun 22;10(7):992.

doi: 10.3390/vaccines10070992.

Increased EBV DNAemia after Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination in Solid Organ Transplants

Joanna Musialik¹, Aureliusz Kolonko¹, Andrzej Więcek¹

Affiliations

PMID: 35891156
PMCID: PMC9325163
DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10070992

Increased EBV DNAemia after Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination in Solid Organ Transplants

Joanna Musialik et al. Vaccines (Basel). 2022.

. 2022 Jun 22;10(7):992.

doi: 10.3390/vaccines10070992.

Authors

Joanna Musialik¹, Aureliusz Kolonko¹, Andrzej Więcek¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Nephrology, Transplantation and Internal Medicine, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Francuska Str. 20-24, 40-027 Katowice, Poland.

PMID: 35891156
PMCID: PMC9325163
DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10070992

Abstract

The reactivation of latent viruses during SARS-CoV-2 infection is well recognized, and coinfection with Epstein−Barr virus (EBV) has been associated with severe clinical cases of COVID-19 infection. In transplant patients, EBV infection presents a significant challenge. Assessing the potential impact of SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations on EBV infections in stable kidney and liver transplant recipients was the objective of our study. Ten solid-organ-transplant (SOT) patients (eight kidney and two liver) vaccinated with standard doses of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines were included. EBV DNA viral load measurements were conducted prior to the vaccination and during a follow-up period (at the first month and after six months) after the second vaccine dose. After the second dose, a significant increase in median viremia was observed (p < 0.01) in 9 patients, and in one patient, the reactivation of EBV infection was found. Six months later, the median viremia decreased significantly (p < 0.05). The EBV viral load should be closely monitored as it could lead to the earlier diagnosis and treatment of EBV-related complications. Despite experiencing a decrease in the viral load six months post-vaccination, some patients still had a viral load over the baseline, which increased the risk of potential complications.

Keywords: COVID-19; Epstein–Barr virus; solid organ transplant; vaccine.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

**Figure 1**
Median, minimum, maximum, and interquartile ranges of EBV viremia before the vaccination and after the second dose of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in transplant patients.

**Figure 2**
The individual results of the Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) viremia during the follow-up period (The individual symbols mark the next patients and the dashed line marks the results of the patient who reactivated EBV infection).

See this image and copyright information in PMC

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[1] Shahid Z., Kalayanamitra R., McClafferty B., Kepko D., Ramgobin D., Patel R., Jones K., Bhatt D., Golamari R., Jain R., et al. COVID-19 and older adults: What we know. J. Am. Geriatr. Soc. 2020;68:926–929. doi: 10.1111/jgs.16472. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[2] Shahid Z., Kalayanamitra R., McClafferty B., Kepko D., Ramgobin D., Patel R., Jones K., Bhatt D., Golamari R., Jain R., et al. COVID-19 and older adults: What we know. J. Am. Geriatr. Soc. 2020;68:926–929. doi: 10.1111/jgs.16472. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[3] Gallo Marin B., Aghagoli G., Lavine K., Yang L., Siff E.J., Chiang S.S., Salazar-Mater T.P., Dumenco L., Savaria M.C., Aung S.N., et al. Predictors of COVID-19 severity: A literature review. Rev. Med. Virol. 2021;31:1–10. doi: 10.1002/rmv.2146. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[4] Gallo Marin B., Aghagoli G., Lavine K., Yang L., Siff E.J., Chiang S.S., Salazar-Mater T.P., Dumenco L., Savaria M.C., Aung S.N., et al. Predictors of COVID-19 severity: A literature review. Rev. Med. Virol. 2021;31:1–10. doi: 10.1002/rmv.2146. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[5] Kadali R.A.K., Janagama R., Peruru S., Malayala S.V. Side effects of BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine: A randomized, cross-sectional study with detailed self-reported symptoms from healthcare workers. Int. J. Infect. Dis. 2021;106:376–381. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2021.04.047. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[6] Kadali R.A.K., Janagama R., Peruru S., Malayala S.V. Side effects of BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine: A randomized, cross-sectional study with detailed self-reported symptoms from healthcare workers. Int. J. Infect. Dis. 2021;106:376–381. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2021.04.047. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[7] Hall V.G., Ferreira V.H., Ierullo M., Ku T., Marinelli T., Majchrzak-Kita B., Yousuf A., Kulasingam V., Humar A., Kumar D. Humoral and cellular immune response and safety of two-dose SARS-CoV-2 mRNA-1273 vaccine in solid organ transplant recipients. Am. J. Transplant. 2021;21:3980–3989. doi: 10.1111/ajt.16766. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[8] Hall V.G., Ferreira V.H., Ierullo M., Ku T., Marinelli T., Majchrzak-Kita B., Yousuf A., Kulasingam V., Humar A., Kumar D. Humoral and cellular immune response and safety of two-dose SARS-CoV-2 mRNA-1273 vaccine in solid organ transplant recipients. Am. J. Transplant. 2021;21:3980–3989. doi: 10.1111/ajt.16766. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[9] Neves M., Marinho-Dias J., Ribeiro J., Sousa H. Epstein-Barr virus strains and variations: Geographic or disease-specific variants? J. Med. Virol. 2017;89:373–387. doi: 10.1002/jmv.24633. - DOI - PubMed

[10] Neves M., Marinho-Dias J., Ribeiro J., Sousa H. Epstein-Barr virus strains and variations: Geographic or disease-specific variants? J. Med. Virol. 2017;89:373–387. doi: 10.1002/jmv.24633. - DOI - PubMed

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Increased EBV DNAemia after Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination in Solid Organ Transplants

Affiliation

Increased EBV DNAemia after Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination in Solid Organ Transplants

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