Before starting, I apologize in advance in case any obvious link eluded me.
By the way, I've recently compared anti-s IgG levels in two people and I couldn’t help but notice a curious fact: IgG levels detected in a young female person with IBD a year after the infection were three times higher (despite treatment with azathioprine) than those detected in another woman who received her second Pfizer vaccine shot.
I’m undoubtedly aware that this comparison isn’t statistically significant nor sufficiently accurate, but I was wondering whether there might be other similar data suggesting a possible explanation.
Thanks in advance to everybody who will indulge my curiosity.
Hello Sara
IBD is a result of a defective immune system. IBD patients have significantly elevated serum levels of IgG and IgM.
Azathioprine is an immunosuppressant that decreases synthesis of IgG and IgM. But it does not have any effect on serum immunoglobulin concentrations. So even if the production of immunoglobulins
show a decrease there is no significant decrease in the serum immunoglobulin levels when treated with azathioprine.
You can refer to the research article given below for more information.
J Clin Invest. 1972
https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI107031
Best Wishes.
Immunosuppressant drugs may elevate the risk for severe COVID-19, defined as being admitted to the hospital, needing a mechanical ventilator, or dying.
Malcolm Nobre thank you very much, your answer was quite enlightening!
Zaim Gashi to be fair, it seems quite reasonable to me to assume immunosuppressant drugs may elevate the risk of severe covid-19, my doubts actually concern the higher serum IgG levels despite immunosuppressive therapy. But still, thank you very much for your kind reply!
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