Anti-SARS-CoV IgG response in relation to disease severity of severe acute respiratory syndrome

Background: The association between a robust or depressed antibody response and clinical severity of SARS remains unknown. Objectives: To study seroconversion and the magnitude of IgG responses in a SARS cohort with different disease severities. Study design and method: A retrospective analysis of all acute and convalescent-phase sera collected from a cohort of laboratory-confirmed SARS cases. Anti-SARS-CoV IgG antibody was detected using indirect immunofluorescence technique and quantified by two-fold serial dilutions. Characteristics of patients who seroconverted "early" (<median interval) were compared to those documented to remain seronegative during the same time interval. Median IgG levels in convalescent-phase sera (collected within 30 days) were compared among patients with different disease severities. Correlations between IgG levels and important laboratory parameters were assessed. Results: A total of 325 laboratory-confirmed SARS cases were analyzed; of which 301 (92.6%) had anti-SARS-CoV IgG detected in their sera at the time of sampling. IgG was first detected on day 4 of illness; seroconversion Occurred at a median of 16 days (range 4-35 days), and IgG peak levels were reached in the fourth week. Early seroconversion (<day 16) occurred more frequently among patients who required ICU-admission (chi(2); p=0.011). Higher IgG levels were detected in patients who required supplemental oxygen (Mann-Whitney; p=0.002) ICU-admission (p=0.001), had negative pre-discharge fecal RT-PCR results(p=0.004), and lymphopenia at presentation (P=0.028). Peak IgG titres also correlated positively with peak LDH levels (Spearman's r=+0.360: p<0.001) among Survivors. Conclusions: Severe SARS is associated with a more robust IgG response. (C) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.