A follow-up report on the published paper Social and clinical impact of COVID-19 on patients with fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva

Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) is a rare genetic disorder associated with increased immune activity and severe, progressive heterotopic ossification (HO). Patients with FOP develop significant respiratory compromise from HO affecting their chest wall, as well as cardiopulmonary dysfunction and thoracic syndrome. These physical changes put patients with FOP at higher risk of medical complications from respiratory infections. In addition, the pro-inflammatory nature of FOP produces an increased susceptibility to HO from traumatic stimuli, even minor events, which means any immunization carries significant risk of HO formation. Thus, understanding the risks of COVID-19 and vaccination are critical for helping patients with FOP make informed medical decisions about vaccination.

We previously described 32 subjects with FOP who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, had a high-risk exposure, or received COVID-19 vaccination that were recruited between July 14th, 2020 and August 23rd, 2021 in a study approved by the UCSF Institutional Review Board [1]. We showed that patients with FOP who received the COVID-19 vaccination and followed guidelines from the International Clinical Council (ICC) on FOP [2] generally tolerated the vaccine well. Subjects who tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus showed no major complications for increased FOP disease activity. Only one patient among 15 subjects who received the COVID-19 vaccine experienced a flare at the injection site.

Since the initial publication, we identified 15 additional new subjects and performed follow-up assessments on prior subjects until May 17th, 2022. Subjects were enrolled if they tested positive for COVID-19 and/or if they received one of the COVID-19 vaccines. We did not include cases of high-risk exposure lacking a confirmed positive diagnosis. No data was collected on social or behavioral characteristics in this extension study.

Demographics including age, sex, and country of origin were collected immediately following consent. The same two patient-reported outcomes questionnaires administered during the data collection of the initial phase¹ were used during the second phase. The questionnaires were tailored for the respective recipient’s experience, either to obtain information on the COVID-19 infection or close contact exposure, or to obtain information about the vaccine received. Outreach was conducted on participants enrolled in the first phase to learn if those who contracted COVID-19 or experienced a high-risk exposure later received a vaccine or if those who received a vaccine later obtained a booster shot. The new clinical data were added to the data collected during the first timeframe for updated analysis. The total data were converted to case events because some subjects had more than one infection.

Our initial report described 32 subjects, 10 of whom tested positive for COVID-19, seven reported close contact with a COVID-19 positive case but did not have a confirmed diagnosis themselves, and 15 received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine (Fig. 1). Fifteen new subjects were enrolled during the follow-up period with five subjects from the first enrollment cohort reporting new information. Figure 1 shows an updated flow-chart from our published paper showing updated numbers for total subjects and events observed, broken down by COVID-19 infection and vaccine attainment. Tables 1, 2, and 3 are updated with the pooled data obtained during both observation timeframes for re-analysis. Table 4 shows a breakdown of the vaccine manufacturers and injection type.

In the new aggregate cohort of 47 subjects, there were 19 events of positive tests for COVID-19 and 23 events of receiving at least one dose of a vaccine. Doses given as part of a multi-dose treatment protocol were counted together as one vaccination event. The mean age for subjects who tested positive for COVID-19 was 27.5 years old while the mean age for participants who received at least one vaccine dose was 34 years old. More males than females reported a positive viral diagnosis whereas more females than males reported obtaining a vaccine. Country of origin data remained consistent with the initial paper’s cohort, with the United States still ranking the highest and lower representation from Europe and Latin America. This report bias may be driven by several factors, including that the study was based in the United States, that vaccine access was highly variable across different countries, and that the largest proportion of participants in the IFOPA registry is from North America [3]

Patient reported outcomes by subjects who tested positive for COVID-19 did not significantly change with the addition of new enrollees. The most common symptoms were weakness/fatigue and cough, both with a frequency of 68.4%. The following most common symptoms were loss of sense of taste and smell with 52.6% frequency and fever with 47.4% frequency. Only three participants were hospitalized for their symptoms and no subjects reported flare activity in the weeks following infection.

Patient reported outcomes by subjects who received a standard vaccine course per the manufacturer or vaccine plus booster shot also did not change significantly with the addition of new enrollees and follow-up among subjects enrolled during the first cohort. Pain/soreness at the injection site was the most common symptom with 82.6% frequency followed by tiredness/fatigue with 43.5% frequency. Only one subject reported a flare in the first two weeks following the injection (from the initial cohort) and no subjects reported heterotopic ossification (HO).

Most subjects received the Pfizer vaccine compared to Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, and CoronaVac. Nearly all subjects received their injections intramuscularly. Only three subjects deviated from this: one did not report data, one received the vaccine subcutaneously, and one subject mixed their injection methods receiving the first injection of a two-dose vaccine subcutaneously but intramuscularly for the second injection.

During the total of 22 months of observation, we found that vaccination of patients with FOP with the COVID-19 vaccines could be well tolerated, using the guidelines published in our original manuscript [1] and on the ICCFOP.org website [2]. ICC FOP guidelines for COVID-19 Vaccine Injections included taking the vaccine through its intended route, taking the vaccine at a location that is already fused, avoiding vaccination sites exposed to pressure (such as the buttocks), being flare-free for at least 2 weeks prior, using the smallest diameter needle available, and taking ibuprofen or acetaminophen before the vaccination and for 48 h after the injection. The risks of a trauma-related flare near an injection site and/or HO formation remain major concerns for all patients with FOP. Thus, our findings that the COVID-19 vaccination can be tolerated in patients with FOP should not be extended to other intramuscularly administered vaccinations. In addition, there has been at least two case reports of patients with FOP or suspected FOP having post-COVID-19 exacerbation of flare up and HO formation activity [6, 7]. There are reported cases of higher prevalence of HO in patients with ARDS due to prolonged immobilization [8]. Some vaccinated patients with FOP have also shown strong SARS-CoV-2 specific humoral responses, which did not significantly differ from responses of healthy individuals [9]. In addition, COVID-19-related HO may show less severity compared to other types of HO [10]. Together, these long-term data may be useful for patients with FOP as they work with their medical team to weigh the relevant risks and benefits of a COVID-19 vaccination.

Due to the propensity for post-traumatic flare activity and progressive HO formation characteristic of FOP, we had originally hypothesized that COVID-19 infection and vaccination may have disproportionately negative impacts on people with FOP. Our observations on a small cohort suggest that patients with FOP have similar risks as the general population to COVID-19 infection, and that patients with FOP may be able to tolerate COVID-19 vaccination when treated following a consensus protocol to mitigate flare risk [1]. Because other vaccinations and viral infections are known [4‐7] to be associated with HO formation in patients with FOP, this information should be used to guide individual discussions about risks and benefits for vaccination within the FOP community.