Persistence of infection-induced SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity throughout gestation

Abstract

The SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies increase approximately 2 to 3 weeks after viral infection. The time period for which these antibodies persist and how rapidly they decay have been the subject of several studies in nonpregnant patients, sometimes with differing results. 1e4 A study in pregnant women observed that the neutralizing antibody titers remained stable throughout gestation. 5 Our study evaluated the qualitative IgG antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection longitudinally throughout pregnancy in an unselected cohort shortly after the peak of the outbreak in New York to determine the frequency of waning seropositivity. STUDY DESIGN:This retrospective cohort study evaluated all the patients who had first and second trimester biochemical screening to detect fetal aneuploidy between May 2020 and June 2020 at 3 hospitals within a large integrated health system in New York and subsequently had SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing during hospitalization for delivery. During the study period, the health system policy was to perform SARS-COV-2 polymerase chain reaction testing on all the hospitalized obstetrical patients and to offer, but not require, SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing. All the included patients were pregnant at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and delivered before the availability of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. For each included patient, the dried blood specimens collected in the first trimester and the serum blood specimens collected in the second trimester were retrieved from storage at -20 C and were tested for SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies to the nucleocapsid protein using an enzymelinked immunosorbent assay (Gold

SARS-CoV-2 Seroconversion and Pregnancy Outcomes in a Population of Pregnant Women Recruited in Milan, Italy, between April 2020 and October 2020

“…We did not find any correlation between the presence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies or the ability to inhibit the virus and the development of preeclampsia. This result is consistent with previous studies [ 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 ]. However, Jemieson et al demonstrated a correlation between preeclampsia and severe COVID disease [ 32 ], while in a retrospective cohort study Ko et al observed a link between preeclampsia and any manifestation of SARS-CoV-2 infection [ 33 ].…”

“…Staszewski et al analyzed SARS-CoV-2 IgG in 149 pregnant women in the first and second trimesters and at the time of delivery. They observed an antibody response throughout pregnancy, finding seropositivity between 12.1% and 16.1% [ 26 ], which is comparable to what we observed (seroprevalence: 19.7%, seroconversion: 12.1%) However, none of these studies analyzed the correlation between seroprevalence and clinical outcomes.…”

“…Previous studies have reported on the rate of seroconversion for SARS-CoV-2 during the three trimesters of pregnancy [ 26 ]. Staszewski et al analyzed SARS-CoV-2 IgG in 149 pregnant women in the first and second trimesters and at the time of delivery.…”

Maternal COVID-19 Serological Changes—Comparison between Seroconversion Rate in First and Third Trimesters of Pregnancy and Subsequent Obstetric Complications: A Cohort Study

“…The reported prevalence of positive serological tests in pregnant women in our country varied from 15% in the first trimester [13], to 20% in the third trimester and delivery [13][14][15][16]. There is a smaller-scale study, carried out at three hospitals in New York, involving 149 women who were assessed for anti-SARS-CoV2 IgG antibodies during the first and second trimesters, as well as at the moment of delivery [17]. The outcomes from this study were similar to our own findings as the authors reported a seroprevalence rate of 12.1% during the first trimester and 16.1% during the second trimester.…”