Neutralizing Antibody Responses to SARS-CoV-2 in Korean Patients Who Have Recovered from COVID-19
10.3349/ymj.2021.62.7.584
- Author:
Yoon-Jung KIM
1
;
Joon-Yong BAE
;
Sohyun BAE
;
Soyoon HWANG
;
Ki Tae KWON
;
Hyun-Ha CHANG
;
Won Kee LEE
;
Chunguang CUI
;
Gee Eun LEE
;
Shin-Woo KIM
;
Man-Seong PARK
Author Information
1. Department of Internal Medicine, Kyungpook National University Hospital, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea
- Publication Type:Original Article
- From:Yonsei Medical Journal
2021;62(7):584-592
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Purpose:Neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) have been considered effective in preventing and treating viral infections. However, until now, the duration and clinical implications of antibody-mediated nature immunity in Koreans have remained unknown.Therefore, we examined NAbs levels and clinical characteristics in recovered coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients.
Materials and Methods:Blood samples were collected from 143 adult patients who had been diagnosed with and had recovered from COVID-19 from February to March in 2020 at a tertiary-care university-affiliated hospital in Daegu, Korea. A plaque reduction neutralization test was conducted to analyze NAb titers. Individualized questionnaires were used to identify patient clinical information.
Results:The median number of days from symptom onset to the blood collection date was 109.0 (104.0; 115.0). The NAb titers ranged from 10 to 2560. The median NAb titer value was 40. Of the 143 patients, 68 (47.6%) patients had NAb titers ≥80, and 31 (21.7%) patients had NAb titers ≥160. The higher the age or disease severity, the higher the NAb titer. In univariate logistic regression, statistically significant predictors of high NAb titers (≥80) were age, myalgia, nausea or vomiting, dyspnea, and disease severity (p<0.05). Multivariable logistic regression showed that age ≥50 years (p=0.013) and moderate or higher disease severity (p<0.001) were factors associated with high NAb titers (≥80). None of the patients had reinfection of COVID-19.
Conclusion:All recovered patients were found to have NAbs regardless of the NAb titers maintained by natural immunity. Age and disease severity during COVID-19 infection were associated with high NAb titers.
