Growth hormone replacement therapy enhances humoral response to COVID-19 mRNA vaccination in patients with adult-onset growth hormone deficiency.

GH-treated patients with aGHD exhibited significantly higher anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody titers following COVID-19 booster vaccination compared to untreated aGHD patients.

• Mean antibody titer in GH-treated group was 19,122.1 ± 7,736.84 U/mL versus 9,539.14 ± 5,408.90 U/mL in the untreated control group.
• The difference was statistically significant (p = 0.01).
• Blood samples were collected 3 to 6 months after the third booster dose of BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) vaccine.
• The GH-treated group consisted of 10 patients (8 females, 2 males) with obesity and aGHD.

GH replacement therapy was the only statistically significant predictor of vaccine humoral response in multivariate regression analysis.

• Multivariate regression analysis identified GH replacement therapy as the sole statistically significant predictor of vaccine response.
• Factors including male sex, age, and visceral adipose tissue showed negative correlations with vaccine response but did not reach statistical significance.
• The control group consisted of 7 patients (5 females, 2 males) with aGHD who had not started GH treatment.

The study design involved matched patient cohorts receiving recombinant GH replacement therapy at a standard dose initiated prior to vaccination.

• GH replacement therapy was administered at a standard dose of 0.1 mg/day.
• GH therapy was initiated six months to one year before the first vaccine dose.
• Both groups were matched for age, gender, and body mass index (BMI) to ensure comparability.
• The study was an observational retrospective design.

The study was motivated by an established link between GH/IGF-1 deficiency and severe COVID-19 outcomes.

• The research premise was based on the established link between GH/insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) deficiency and severe COVID-19 outcomes.
• The study sought to determine whether GH therapy can enhance vaccine efficacy in patients with adult-onset growth hormone deficiency.
• Both patient groups had obesity in addition to aGHD.

The authors concluded that GH replacement therapy may enhance immune response to COVID-19 vaccination in aGHD patients, potentially improving metabolic health and immune function.

• Findings suggest GH replacement therapy may enhance the immune response to COVID-19 vaccination in patients with aGHD.
• The authors proposed this effect potentially improves 'overall metabolic health and immune function.'
• The total study population was small, comprising 17 patients across both groups (10 treated, 7 untreated).