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Decline of IgG pertussis toxin measured in umbilical cord blood, and neonatal and early infant serum.

Authors :
Smallenburg LC
van Welie NA
Elvers LH
van Huisseling JC
Teunis PF
Versteegh FG
Source :
European journal of clinical microbiology & infectious diseases : official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology [Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis] 2014 Sep; Vol. 33 (9), pp. 1541-5. Date of Electronic Publication: 2014 Apr 23.
Publication Year :
2014

Abstract

Maternal pertussis-specific antibodies are passively acquired by infants during pregnancy. An IgG pertussis toxin (IgG-PT) concentration of >20 U/ml is considered to protect neonates against pertussis. To evaluate the IgG concentration at birth and during the first two months of life, we examined the IgG-PT concentration in the umbilical cord blood and three times during the neonatal and early infant period. IgG-PT was measured by validated IgG-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) in umbilical cord blood and in Guthrie card blood samples of umbilical cord blood in 2,790 children, born between 1 August 2006 and 1 December 2008. These measurements were comparable. All children with concentrations of IgG-PT >30 U/ml were included. IgG-PT was also measured in Guthrie card blood samples, when the neonates or early infants were 5 days, 1 month and 2 months old. The mean concentrations of IgG-PT were calculated. The mean concentration of IgG-PT in umbilical cord blood was 60.1 U/ml (LN 4.1; 0.6 SD; n = 103). At the age of 5 days, 1 month and 2 months, the mean concentration of IgG-PT was 40.6 U/ml (LN 3.7; 0.5 SD; n = 103), 20.7 U/ml (LN 3.0; 0.7 SD; n = 62) and 16.7 U/ml (LN 2.8; 0.9 SD; n = 61), respectively. Four percent of the neonates had a concentration of IgG-PT >30 U/ml in umbilical cord blood, which declined to levels around the concentration needed for protection against pertussis (>20 U/ml) in the first two months of life. Hence, it is of great importance to further investigate the safety of maternal immunisation during pregnancy to prevent life-threatening pertussis in newborns.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1435-4373
Volume :
33
Issue :
9
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
European journal of clinical microbiology & infectious diseases : official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
24756212
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-014-2110-2