tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
J Perinat Med
. 2021 Jun 11.
doi: 10.1515/jpm-2021-0166. Online ahead of print.
SARS-CoV-2 in pregnancy and possible transfer of immunity: assessment of peripartal maternal and neonatal antibody levels and a longitudinal follow-up
Katharina Rathberger[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Sebastian Häusler[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Sven Wellmann[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Marco Weigl[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Florian Langhammer[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Maria Victoria Bazzano[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Andreas Ambrosch[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Sara Fill Malfertheiner[SUP] 1 6 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Objectives: In the current Severe Acute Respiratory Distress Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic there is still great uncertainty about the effects of an infection in pregnancy especially regarding a possible fetal transmission of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 and the longevity of this immunity.
Methods: Sixteen women who were infected with SARS-CoV-2 during pregnancy and their offspring were included. The antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 was measured in mother and umbilical cord blood peripartum and in a follow-up examination 6-11 weeks after birth. Medical history, symptoms regarding SARS-CoV-2, obstetric and neonatal information were queried following recommendations by the WHO.
Results: A total of 73% of the women and one third of the infants developed antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein receptor binding domain (RBD), with a long interval between infection and birth proving favorable for a transplacentar transfer of antibodies to the neonates. All infants showed declining or vanishing antibody-titers in the follow-up examination, while the titers of their mothers were stable or even increased.
Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that transplacental transfer of SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies is possible, but also indicate that the immunity that may be gained as a result might decrease in newborns postpartum. This provides important evidence that could be useful for further studies covering vaccination during pregnancy.
Keywords: IgA; IgG; SARS-CoV-2; immunity; peripartum period; pregnancy; screening.
. 2021 Jun 11.
doi: 10.1515/jpm-2021-0166. Online ahead of print.
SARS-CoV-2 in pregnancy and possible transfer of immunity: assessment of peripartal maternal and neonatal antibody levels and a longitudinal follow-up
Katharina Rathberger[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Sebastian Häusler[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Sven Wellmann[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Marco Weigl[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Florian Langhammer[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Maria Victoria Bazzano[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Andreas Ambrosch[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Sara Fill Malfertheiner[SUP] 1 6 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 34116588
- DOI: 10.1515/jpm-2021-0166
Abstract
Objectives: In the current Severe Acute Respiratory Distress Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic there is still great uncertainty about the effects of an infection in pregnancy especially regarding a possible fetal transmission of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 and the longevity of this immunity.
Methods: Sixteen women who were infected with SARS-CoV-2 during pregnancy and their offspring were included. The antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 was measured in mother and umbilical cord blood peripartum and in a follow-up examination 6-11 weeks after birth. Medical history, symptoms regarding SARS-CoV-2, obstetric and neonatal information were queried following recommendations by the WHO.
Results: A total of 73% of the women and one third of the infants developed antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein receptor binding domain (RBD), with a long interval between infection and birth proving favorable for a transplacentar transfer of antibodies to the neonates. All infants showed declining or vanishing antibody-titers in the follow-up examination, while the titers of their mothers were stable or even increased.
Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that transplacental transfer of SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies is possible, but also indicate that the immunity that may be gained as a result might decrease in newborns postpartum. This provides important evidence that could be useful for further studies covering vaccination during pregnancy.
Keywords: IgA; IgG; SARS-CoV-2; immunity; peripartum period; pregnancy; screening.