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Transfer of viral antibodies from mother to infant
Insights
Infants at risk showed lower antibody levels to common viruses like Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV). This suggests inefficient antibody production in newborns with risk factors.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Virology
- Neonatal Medicine
Background:
- Maternal antibodies provide crucial passive immunity to newborns.
- Viral infections during pregnancy can pose risks to fetal development.
- Assessing neonatal immune status is vital for identifying at-risk infants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare antibody titers to five common viruses in maternal and cord sera.
- To investigate the relationship between neonatal risk factors and antibody levels.
- To evaluate the correlation between maternal and neonatal antibody levels.
Main Methods:
- Quantified antibody titers against Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), herpes simplex virus (HSV) Type 1, varicella-zoster virus (VZV), and rubella virus (RV).
- Analyzed sera from 258 maternal-newborn pairs.
- Defined neonatal risk factors including low birth weight, low Apgar score, jaundice, and respiratory distress.
Main Results:
- Antibody levels to cytomegalovirus (CMV) and rubella virus (RV) were higher in cord blood than maternal blood.
- Infants with risk factors exhibited lower geometric mean titers (GMTs) for all five viruses in both maternal and cord sera.
- Similar GMTs for EBV and HSV were observed between maternal and cord sera.
Conclusions:
- Neonatal risk factors are associated with lower antibody titers to common viral infections.
- Inefficient antibody production may correlate with the presence of adverse risk factors in newborns.
- Further research is warranted to understand the implications of these findings for neonatal immunity.
Abstract:
Antibody titers to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), herpes simplex virus (HSV) Type 1, varicella-zoster virus (VZV) and rubella virus (RV) were determined in maternal and in newborn cord sera in 258 consecutive deliveries. Infants born with one or more of the following risk factors--weight less than 2.5 kg, Apgar score less than 7, clinical jaundice, meconium-stained amniotic fluid, birth defects and respiratory distress syndrome--were considered to be at risk. Similar geometric mean titers (GMT) of antibodies to EBV and HSV were seen in cord blood. Anti-VZV maternal antibody levels were significantly higher than those of cord blood (P less than 0.01). Levels of antibody to CMV and RV, the two viruses most implicated in fetal damage were significantly higher in cord blood than in maternal blood (P = 0.02, and P less than 0.001, respectively). Lower GMTs of antibodies to all five viruses were found in both maternal and cord sera of the group of infants at risk, as compared with infants without risk factors, while the ratio of maternal to cord blood antibody levels remained similar. It appears that inefficient production of antibodies correlates with the presence of risk factors in the newborn.