Recommendations of the Spanish Group on Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis on the importance, screening and vaccination in inflammatory bowel disease patients

Malaltia de Crohn; Colitis ulcerosa; VacunacióEnfermedad de Crohn; Colitis ulcerosa; VacunaciónCrohn's disease; Ulcerative colitis; VaccinationPatients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) may require different immunosuppressive treatments throughout their illness. It is essential to assess the immunization status of patients at diagnosis or, if this is not possible, at least before the beginning of immunosuppressive therapy and, subsequently, administering the appropriate vaccines. Therefore, the aim of this work is to establish clear and concise recommendations on vaccination in patients with IBD in the different settings of our clinical practice including vaccination in children, during pregnancy, breastfeeding or on trips. This consensus document emphasises the differences between inactivated and attenuated vaccines and the different degrees of immunosuppression and correlates them with the administration of both mandatory and optional vaccines recommended to our patients with IBD. Finally, as a summary, 17 recommendations are established based on the available scientific evidence and expert opinion. A multidisciplinary team with extensive experience in IBD and vaccination, made up of specialists in gastroenterology, paediatrics, nursing and pharmacy, has participated in the preparation of these recommendations of the Spanish Working Group on Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis.Los pacientes con enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal (EII) pueden requerir diferentes tratamientos inmunosupresores a lo largo del curso de su enfermedad. Por ello, es fundamental evaluar el estado de inmunización en el momento del diagnóstico o, si no es posible, siempre antes de iniciar un tratamiento inmunosupresor, y administrar las vacunas apropiadas. El objetivo del presente documento es establecer unas recomendaciones claras y concisas sobre la vacunación en pacientes con EII en diferentes escenarios de práctica clínica, incluyendo situaciones especiales como la vacunación en la edad pediátrica, el embarazo, la lactancia o en viajes al extranjero. Se presentan las diferencias entre vacunas inactivadas y atenuadas, los diferentes grados de inmunosupresión y su relación con las pautas de administración de las diferentes vacunas (tanto obligatorias como opcionales) recomendadas a los pacientes con EII. En el documento, se establecen 17 recomendaciones basadas en la evidencia científica disponible y opinión de expertos. En la elaboración de estas recomendaciones del Grupo Español de Trabajo en Enfermedad de Crohn y Colitis Ulcerosa ha participado un equipo multidisciplinar con amplia experiencia en EII y vacunación formado por especialistas de gastroenterología, pediatría, enfermería y farmacia

Higher COVID-19 pneumonia risk associated with anti-IFN-α than with anti-IFN-ω auto-Abs in children

We found that 19 (10.4%) of 183 unvaccinated children hospitalized for COVID-19 pneumonia had autoantibodies (auto-Abs) neutralizing type I IFNs (IFN-alpha 2 in 10 patients: IFN-alpha 2 only in three, IFN-alpha 2 plus IFN-omega in five, and IFN-alpha 2, IFN-omega plus IFN-beta in two; IFN-omega only in nine patients). Seven children (3.8%) had Abs neutralizing at least 10 ng/ml of one IFN, whereas the other 12 (6.6%) had Abs neutralizing only 100 pg/ml. The auto-Abs neutralized both unglycosylated and glycosylated IFNs. We also detected auto-Abs neutralizing 100 pg/ml IFN-alpha 2 in 4 of 2,267 uninfected children (0.2%) and auto-Abs neutralizing IFN-omega in 45 children (2%). The odds ratios (ORs) for life-threatening COVID-19 pneumonia were, therefore, higher for auto-Abs neutralizing IFN-alpha 2 only (OR [95% CI] = 67.6 [5.7-9,196.6]) than for auto-Abs neutralizing IFN-. only (OR [95% CI] = 2.6 [1.2-5.3]). ORs were also higher for auto-Abs neutralizing high concentrations (OR [95% CI] = 12.9 [4.6-35.9]) than for those neutralizing low concentrations (OR [95% CI] = 5.5 [3.1-9.6]) of IFN-omega and/or IFN-alpha 2