Korean J Intern Med . Dynamics of viral load and anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in patients with positive RT-PCR results after recovery from COVID-19

[tetano]

Korean J Intern Med


. 2020 Sep 15.
doi: 10.3904/kjim.2020.325. Online ahead of print.
Dynamics of viral load and anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in patients with positive RT-PCR results after recovery from COVID-19


Kyoung-Ho Song ¹ , Dong-Min Kim ² , Hyunju Lee ³ , Sin Young Ham ¹ , Sang-Min Oh ¹ , Hyeonju Jeong ¹ , Jongtak Jung ¹ , Chang Kyung Kang ⁴ , Ji Young Park ³ , Yu Min Kang ⁵ , Ji-Yeon Kim ⁶ , Jeong Su Park ⁷ , Kyoung Un Park ⁷ , Eu Suk Kim ¹ , Hong Bin Kim ¹



Affiliations

• PMID: 32972123
• DOI: 10.3904/kjim.2020.325

Abstract

The recent rise in the number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients tested as reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) after recovery has caused dilemma regarding the medical measures and polices. We evaluated the dynamics of viral load and anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in 4 patients with positive RT-PCR results after recovery. In all patients, IgG and IgM antibodies reached their maximum about a month after the onset of initial symptoms. Then, IgG titers plateaued, and IgM titers decreased regardless of RT-PCR results. The IgG and IgM antibodies did not rise after the positive-negative positive RT-PCR results in any of the patients. Our results reinforced that the post-negative positive RT-PCR results may be due to detection of RNA particles rather than re-infection or recurrence in individuals who have recovered from COVID-19.

Keywords: COVID-19; Reinfection; SARS-CoV-2.