Significance of Serum Antibodies in COVID-19 patients

A Danish study¹ in JI showed that the serum titer of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG, IgA and IgM antibodies in COVID-19 patients correlated with disease severity. “…Abs toward SARS-CoV-2 represent a double-edged sword…”

In a Turkish study² (also published in JI) of recovered COVID-19 patients, 20% did not have significant levels of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies. This cohort did however have EIA detectable antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 proteins. “…recovery from SARS-CoV-2 infection is not solely dependent on high NAb titers in affected subjects…”

Paper Citations

1) “SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Responses Are Correlated to Disease Severity in COVID-19 Convalescent Individuals” Cecilie Bo Hansen, Mikkel-Ole Skjoedt, et al. (Jan 1, 2021) J Immunol 206(1): 109-117. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4049/jimmunol.2000898

2) “Discordance between Serum Neutralizing Antibody Titers and the Recovery from COVID-19” Merve Kalkan Yazici, Mehmet Z Doymaz, et al. (Nov 15, 2020) J Immunol 205(10): 2719- 2725. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4049/jimmunol.2000840