Premium
Slow maturation of IgG 1 avidity and persistence of specific IgM in congenital rubella: Implications for diagnosis and immunopathology
Author(s) -
Thomas H. I. Janet,
MorganCapner Peter,
CradockWatson John E.,
Enders Gisela,
Best Jennifer M.,
O'shea Siobhan
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
journal of medical virology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1096-9071
pISSN - 0146-6615
DOI - 10.1002/jmv.1890410305
Subject(s) - avidity , rubella , serology , congenital rubella , immunology , rubella virus , virology , antibody , immunoglobulin g , isotype , medicine , biology , vaccination , monoclonal antibody , measles
Without appropriately timed specimens, serological confirmation of congenital rubella infection may be a problem. We have compared the persistence of specific IgM and low avidity specific IgG 1 in 141 sera from 120 cases of serologically confirmed congenital rubella infection with the known time scales for postnatal primary rubella. The results demonstrate that the maturation of the immune response to the rubella virus is abnormally slow in congenital rubella cases both in terms of the isotype switch and especially the development of high avidity specific IgG 1 . Thus avidity studies may permit serological confirmation of congenital rubella for longer than is possible with tests currently in use. The pathological implications of prolonged low avidity antibody proudction are discussed.