IDDF2023-ABS-0316 Exploring the covid-19 vaccination on autoimmune disease and probiotic administration in alleviating disease severity

Vengadesh Letchumanan, Kirttna Solai Vairavan, Jodi Woan-Fei Law, Loh Teng-Hern Tan, Learn-Han Lee

Research output: Contribution to journalMeeting Abstractpeer-review

Abstract

Background The existing clinical data and research suggest that autoimmune patients are at high risk of contracting severe COVID-19 infections. These groups of patients are hesitant to get vaccinated due to the safety and effects of the vaccines. Therefore, this study explores the safety and impact of COVID-19 vaccinations on autoimmune patients and the potential probiotic administration in alleviating disease severity.
Methods A systematic search was done based on the PRISMA guidelines. PubMed, Ovid Medline, and Scopus were searched using the keywords rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, psoriasis, myasthenia gravis, and COVID-19 vaccines. Studies evaluating the effectiveness and side effects of COVID-19 vaccines were included. Reviews, conference proceedings, editorials, commentaries, and conference abstracts were excluded.
Results Out of 523 articles found on COVID-19 vaccination and autoimmune disease, 37 studies that conform to the inclusion criteria were selected in this review. Of the 37 articles reviewed, the findings were divided into 15 studies on rheumatoid arthritis, 11 studies about psoriasis, seven on systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and four on myasthenia gravis. Overall, the studies reported that the benefits of vaccination in this population group still outweigh the risks, and severe complications are rare if present. The flares and disease worsening after vaccination was reported to be mild and resolved quickly. In addition to vaccinations, probiotics and their known antiviral properties could be used for adjunctive treatment to alleviate the COVID-19 disease severity. Lactobacillus sp. and Bifidobacterium sp. have shown anti-inflammatory properties and beneficial health effects by potentiating immune response, maintaining the epithelial barrier, and reducing pathogens’ binding. Figure 1 (IDDF2023-ABS-316 Figure 1. Illustration of COVID-19 vaccination on autoimmune patients and potential of probiotic supplementation) illustrates the safety and effects of COVID-19 vaccination on autoimmune patients and potential probiotic supplementation to alleviate the disease severity.
Conclusions This study showcased the importance of COVID-19 vaccination to autoimmune patients. As evidence suggest that COVID-19 infection harms the gut microbiome, probiotic supplementation will be beneficial in combating COVID-19 disease among autoimmune patients.
Original languageEnglish
Article numberIDDF2023-ABS-0316
Pages (from-to)A56-A57
Number of pages2
JournalGut
Volume72
Issue numberSuppl 1
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jun 2023
EventInternational Digestive Disease Forum 2023 - , Hong Kong
Duration: 10 Jun 202311 Jun 2023
https://gut.bmj.com/content/72/Suppl_1 (Published Abstracts)
https://www.iddforum.com/

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