Background The humoral response to SARS-CoV-2 infection in hemodialysis patients needs to be clarified. Methods In this retrospective study performed in two dialysis facilities, we measured the circulating levels of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in patients who were on maintenance hemodialysis during the first wave of the epidemic in March and April 2020 and were still alive 6 months later. We also investigated associations between the patients diagnosed as infected during the first wave and several clinical, biological, and radiological parameters of COVID-19. Finally, we compared these circulating levels of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies with those of a control group of healthcare workers infected during the same period. Results Of the 299 hemodialysis patients who recovered from the first wave of the epidemic 6 months before, 59 had a positive SARS-CoV-2 antibody whereas only 45 patients were diagnosed as infected during the first wave of the epidemic. All infected hemodialysis patients developed circulating antibodies. Using a clustering method, a significant correlation was identified between the cluster with the lowest circulating levels of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and the severity of COVID-19 based on several parameters including CRP, BNP, lymphocyte count, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, and oxygen requirements, as well as pulmonary involvement on chest scan. Moreover, the circulating levels of the SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in surviving hemodialysis patients ( n = 59) were similar to those of the control group ( n = 17). Conclusion The main finding of this study is that all of the surviving hemodialysis patients who were diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection from March to April 2020 developed a persistent humoral response with significant circulating levels of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, 6 months later. Another important finding is that surviving hemodialysis patients who had more severe disease had lower circulating levels of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Finally, circulating levels of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were similar in surviving hemodialysis patients and healthcare workers without kidney disease.
【초록키워드】 COVID-19, antibody, SARS-COV-2 infection, CRP, healthcare worker, dialysis, Lymphocyte count, Retrospective study, SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, Hemodialysis, SARS-CoV-2 antibody, severity of COVID-19, Patient, Clustering, Kidney disease, Cluster, correlation, First wave, association, BNP, severe disease, humoral, Oxygen requirements, circulating antibodies, control group, pulmonary involvement, circulating, positive, chest scan, parameter, radiological, the epidemic, lowest, Result, performed, the patient, investigated, diagnosed, had more, the SARS-CoV-2, 【제목키워드】 SARS-CoV-2, worker, Month,