Blood Res.  2025;60:19. 10.1007/s44313-025-00067-5.

Seroprevalence of SARS‑CoV‑2 antibodies in patients with hematological and oncological diseases in early 2024

• Cremer L
• Stemler J
• Sprute R
• Herrmann S
• Markus T
• Salmanton‑García J
• Gieselmann L
• Cristanziano V
• Gruell H
• Cornely O
• Mellinghoff S

• KMID: 2566741
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1007/s44313-025-00067-5

Abstract

Introduction
COVID-19 remains a major threat to immunocompromised individuals. The determination of circulat‑ ing SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in patients at high risk for severe course of SARS-CoV-2 infection is important for estimat‑ ing the vaccine-induced humoral immune response. Therefore, we assessed the status quo after winter to analyze the need for booster vaccinations.
Methods
Anti-spike IgG levels of 46 hospitalized patients with hematological and oncological diseases, measured between 21th December 2023 and 8th February 2024, were compared between subgroups of patients. Demographic data, underlying diseases, antineoplastic treatment, and the number of positive SARS-CoV-2 tests at the University Hospital Cologne were collected.
Results
Patients with different diseases showed varying SARS-CoV-2 spike antibody levels. The highest levels were found in patients with diffuse large cell B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and acute leukemia who had not received specific treatment or had just initiated treatment, whereas the lowest levels were found in patients with DLBCL, acute leuke‑ mia, and multiple myeloma who had received at least one line of treatment. The geometric mean antibody titers were higher in female patients than in male patients and were highest in patients aged 41–50 years while lowest in those aged 61–70 years.
Conclusion
The data presented confirm broad variations in SARS-CoV-2 anti-spike IgG levels across patients with dif‑ ferent hematological and oncological diseases and highlight the complex interference of cancer biology, immune dysfunction, and treatment-related factors in shaping immune responses. Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying these variations in antibody levels. We emphasize the need for regular booster vaccina‑ tions in this patient group.

Keyword

COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Vaccination; Immunocompromised patients; Communicable disease; Seroprevalence

Figure

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  Fig. 1 SARS-CoV-2 antibody titers in different groups of patients with hematological and oncological diseases – Scatter Plot (a) and box plot (b)

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  Fig. 2 Comparison of SARS-CoV-2 antibody titers depending on treatment status

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  Fig. 3 Comparison of SARS-CoV-2 antibody titers a) sex b) age

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  Fig. 4 SARS-CoV-2 test results at University Hospital Cologne between December 2023 and February 2024

Reference

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