Two-year prospective study of the humoral immune response of patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome

J Infect Dis. 2006 Mar 15;193(6):792-5. doi: 10.1086/500469. Epub 2006 Feb 9.

Abstract

In a cohort study of 56 convalescent patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), titers of immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies and neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) against SARS-associated coronavirus were assessed at regular intervals (at 1, 4, 7, 10, 16, and 24 months after the onset of disease) by use of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and neutralization assay. IgG antibody and NAb titers were highly correlated, peaking at month 4 after the onset of disease and decreasing thereafter. IgG antibodies remained detectable in all patients until month 16, and they became undetectable in 11.8% of patients at month 24. The finding that NAbs remained detectable throughout follow-up is reassuring in terms of protection provided against reinfection; however, NAb titers decreased markedly after month 16.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Viral / blood*
  • Antibodies, Viral / immunology*
  • Antibody Formation
  • Cohort Studies
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood
  • Neutralization Tests
  • Prospective Studies
  • Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / immunology*
  • Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / virology
  • Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus / immunology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Immunoglobulin G