COVID-19 vaccination appears safe in study of patients with glomerular diseases

Among 2,055 adults with a wide range of glomerular diseases, the COVID-19 vaccination did not adversely affect kidney function or worsen kidney damage and appeared safe in this population, according to a study published in the American Journal of Kidney Diseases (AJKD).

Patients with glomerular disease (GN) may be at increased risk of severe COVID-19, yet concerns over vaccines causing disease relapse may lead to vaccine hesitancy.

Researchers examined the associations of COVID-19 with longitudinal kidney function and proteinuria and compared these to similar associations with COVID-19 vaccination.

In this cohort study of 2,055 patients with minimal change disease (MCD), focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), membranous nephropathy, or IgA nephropathy (IgAN), COVID-19 resulted in hospitalization or death for one in eight cases and was associated with a 35% increase in risk for worsening proteinuria.

In contrast, vaccination did not appear to adversely affect kidney function or proteinuria. The data in this study support vaccination for COVID-19 in patients with glomerular disease.