Skip to main content
Hepatology Communications logoLink to Hepatology Communications
letter
. 2022 Aug 23;6(12):3598. doi: 10.1002/hep4.2071

Comment on “Heterologous adenovirus‐vector/messenger RNA regimen, humoral response and liver transplant recipients”

Pathum Sookaromdee 1,, Viroj Wiwanitkit 2
PMCID: PMC9701470  PMID: 35998273

The article “Heterologous adenovirus‐vector/messenger RNA regimen is associated with improved severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 humoral response in liver transplant recipients” provides important data to support coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) vaccination for liver transplant recipients. According to Mendizabal et al.,[ 1 ] rAd26/mRNA‐1273 was independently associated with a higher antibody response. We agree that heterologous vaccination might increase immunogenicity. However, alternative considerations are warranted. Prior infection, not accounted for in the analysis, could impact subsequent immunity. In most cases, asymptomatic COVID‐19 infection is not unusual.[ 2 ] A history of infection cannot exclude COVID‐19 in the absence of any symptoms. Prior infection could raise antibody levels[ 3 ] and be misinterpreted as the effect of vaccination.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

Nothing to report.

REFERENCES

  • 1. Mendizabal M, Ducasa N, Benencio P, Anders M, Cairo F, Barbero M, et al. Heterologous adenovirus‐vector/messenger RNA regimen is associated with improved severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 humoral response in liver transplant recipients. Hepatol Commun. 2022. Jul 28. 10.1002/hep4.2034. [Epub ahead of print] [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 2. Joob B, Wiwanitkit V. Letter to the editor: coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), infectivity, and the incubation period. J Prev Med Public Health. 2020;53:70. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 3. Gobbi F, Buonfrate D, Moro L, Rodari P, Piubelli C, Caldrer S, et al. Antibody response to the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID‐19 vaccine in subjects with prior SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. Viruses. 2021;13:422. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Hepatology Communications are provided here courtesy of Wolters Kluwer Health

RESOURCES