MS patients with higher B cell counts have a better vaccine response
Pressmeddelande
MS patients treated with Rituximab have better responses to the COVID-19 vaccine if they have higher B cell counts. This is the finding of a study from Uppsala University published in the journal JAMA Network Open. In patients with B cell counts of 40/µL (microlitres) or more, 9 of 10 patients developed protective levels of antibodies, while significantly fewer with lower counts had similar respon
Andreas Tolf, PhD student at Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, and Resident Physician at Uppsala University Hospital, +46-706-36 38 34, andreas.tolf@neuro.uu.se
Anna Wiberg, Researcher at Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, anna.wiberg@igp.uu.se
Fact box: B cells and T cells
B and T cells are two main groups of white blood cells that contribute to the immune system’s function in different ways and through an intricate interaction with each other and with other cells. Vaccinations elicit a B cell response that produces antibodies. This is important for quickly being able to identify viruses and bacteria.