Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41875063›Full record

Observational studyRadiology and oncology2026

Impaired booster-induced SARS-CoV-2 antibody responses in rituximab-treated B-cell lymphoma patients despite peripheral B-Cell Recovery.

Tomaz Jurca, Lucka Boltezar, Miha Orazem, Kristina Fujs Komlos, Katka Pohar, Sara Jevnikar, Mario Poljak, Denis Mlakar Mastnak, Nada Rotovnik Kozjek, Bor Vratanar and 2 more

Abstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in Radiology and oncology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Tomaz JurcaInstitute of Oncology Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Lucka BoltezarInstitute of Oncology Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Miha OrazemInstitute of Oncology Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Kristina Fujs KomlosInstitute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Katka PoharInstitute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Sara JevnikarInstitute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Mario PoljakFaculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Denis Mlakar MastnakInstitute of Oncology Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Nada Rotovnik KozjekInstitute of Oncology Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Bor VratanarInstitute for Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Janja OcvirkInstitute of Oncology Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Alojz IhanFaculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundRituximab-treated patients with B-cell lymphoma exhibit profound B-cell depletion and impaired vaccine-induced antibody responses. However, it remains uncertain whether recovery of peripheral B-cell counts after rituximab is sufficient to restore effective humoral immunity following booster vaccination. PATIENTS AND

methodsIn this prospective, single-center observational study at the Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, adult B-cell lymphoma patients treated with or previously exposed to rituximab received the Comirnaty® mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. Antibody responses to the SARS-CoV-2 spike and nucleoprotein were measured at baseline, 14 days after the second dose, and at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. A third dose was administered at 6 months. T-cell responses (IFN-γ release) were assessed in patients before and after the primary series and booster dose. Lymphocyte subsets were analysed pre-vaccination. Adverse events and nutritional status were monitored.

resultsPatients undergoing anti-CD20 therapy showed absent antibody responses. Longer intervals since rituximab correlated with peripheral B-cell repopulation. However, even after reaching normal B-cell counts, patients' antibody responses after revaccination remained significantly lower than in controls.

conclusionsRituximab is associated with impaired vaccine-induced antibody responses. Despite recovery of peripheral B-cell counts, patients with B-cell lymphoma show reduced humoral responses compared with healthy individuals following booster COVID-19 vaccination.

Indexed as

Antibodies, ViralAntineoplastic Agents, ImmunologicalB-LymphocytesCOVID-19COVID-19 VaccinesImmunization, SecondaryLymphoma, B-CellRituximabSARS-CoV-2AdultAgedFemaleHumansImmunity, HumoralMaleMiddle AgedAntibodies, ViralAntineoplastic Agents, ImmunologicalCOVID-19 VaccinesRituximabantibodiesB-cellCOVID-19 vaccineshumoral immunitylymphomarituximabviral

Identifiers

PMID41875063
PMCPMC13012384

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.