Persistence of IgG Covid-19 antibodies

A longitudinal analysis

Bibliographic Data

ID22089232
AuthorsÁlvaro Carvalho, Álvaro De Carvalho (0000-0003-1085-4686), Ana Rita Henriques (0000-0003-4581-0843, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, corresponding author), Paula Maria Leite Queirós (0000-0001-6193-5289), Joana Rodrigues (0000-0002-3113-4664), Nana Mendonca (0000-0001-7589-9901, Universidade Nova de Lisboa), Nuno Mendonça, Ana María Rodrigues (0000-0003-4506-5783, Universidade Nova de Lisboa), Helena Canhão (0000-0003-1894-4870, Universidade Nova de Lisboa), Germano de Sousa, Francisco Antunes (0000-0002-3569-7480, University of Lisbon), Miguel Guimarães (0000-0003-3628-7587, Ordem dos Médicos)
Year2023
Volume10
Pages1069898-1069898
Publication date2023-01-10
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueFrontiers in Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2296-2565 • E-ISSN: 2296-2565
PublisherFrontiers Media SA (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3389/fpubh.2022.1069898
PMID36703818
OpenAlexW4315475125
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited29

Background and aim The kinetics of antibody production in response to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection is not well-defined yet. This study aimed to evaluate the antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 and its dynamics during 9-months in a cohort of patients infected during the first phase of the pandemic. As a secondary aim, it was intended to evaluate the factors associated with different concentrations of IgG antibodies. Methods A prospective cohort study was conducted from June 2020 to January 2021. This study recruited a convenience sample of adult individuals who where recently diagnosed with COVID-19 and were living in mainland Portugal. A total of 1,695 blood samples were collected from 585 recovered COVID-19 patients up to 9 months after SARS-CoV-2 acute infection. A blood sample was collected at baseline and three, 6 and 9 months after SARS-CoV-2 acute infection to assess the concentration of IgG antibody against SARS-CoV-2. Results The positivity rate of IgG reached 77.7% in the first 3 months after symptom onset. The IgG persists at all subsequent follow-up time-points, which was 87.7 and 89.2% in the 6th and 9th months after symptom onset, respectively. Three distinct kinetics of antibody response were found within the 9 months after infection. Kinetic 1 (K1) was characterized by a constant low IgG antibody concentration kinetic (group size: 65.2%); kinetic 2 (K2), composed by constant moderate IgG kinetic (group size: 27.5%) and kinetic 3 (K3) characterized by higher IgG kinetic (group size: 7.3%). People with ≥56 years old (OR: 3.33; CI 95%: [1.64; 6.67]; p -value: 0.001) and symptomatic COVID-19 (OR: 2.08; CI 95%: [1.08; 4.00]; p -value: 0.031) had higher odds of a “Moderate IgG kinetic.” No significant association were found regarding the “Higher IgG kinetic.” Conclusion Our results demonstrate a lasting anti-spike (anti-S) IgG antibody response at least 9 months after infection in the majority of patients with COVID-19. Younger participants with asymptomatic disease have lower IgG antibody positivity and possibly more susceptible to reinfection. This information contributes to expanding knowledge of SARS-CoV-2 immune response and has direct implications in the adoption of preventive strategies and public health policies

Antibody · Cohort · Cohort study · Disease · Immunoglobulin G · Prospective cohort study · COVID-19 Clinical Research Studies · Medicine · Monoclonal and Polyclonal Antibodies Research · SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research · Immunology · Internal Medicine