Detection of RS‐virus IgG‐subclass‐ specific antibodies: Variation according to age in infants and small children and diagnostic value in RS‐virus‐infected small infants
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Media type:
E-Article
Title:
Detection of RS‐virus IgG‐subclass‐ specific antibodies: Variation according to age in infants and small children and diagnostic value in RS‐virus‐infected small infants
Description:
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>The variation according to age of RS‐virus IgG‐subclass specific antibodies was investigated by ELISA in 140 acute phase sera from 140 infants and children 1–47 mo of age who were hospitalized with acute respiratory disease. Sixty‐nine of these serum samples were obtained from patients with RS‐virus infections. Mean OD values of IgG‐1 antibodies decreased corresponding to the decrease in maternal antibodies. In patients with RS‐virus infections, the mean IgG‐1 OD values increased in children who were 3 yr old, but in patients without RS‐virus infections this increase was observed in children at 1 yr of age. RS‐virus IgG‐3 antibodies were detected only in children 1–3 yrs of age, and only in 18% of samples from children without RS‐virus infections. The concept of the transient nature of RS‐virus IgG‐3 antibodies as compared with RS‐virus IgG‐1 antibodies is supported by these results.</jats:p><jats:p>RS‐virus subclass specific antibodies were studied in paired serum samples from 12 infants 1–5 mo of age with acute lower RS‐virus disease. IgG‐1 antibodies developed in six infants, but only in one of six infants aged 1–3 mo. IgG‐3 antibodies developed in nine infants, including four of six infants who were 1–3 mo old. These results suggest that in small infants with RS‐virus infections the detection of IgG‐3 antibodies is of higher diagnostic value than the detection of IgG‐1 antibodies.</jats:p>