Varicella-zoster virus antibody avidity and IgG-subclass patterns in children with recurrent chickenpox
✍ Scribed by Dr. Anne K. Junker; Peter Tilley
- Publisher
- John Wiley and Sons
- Year
- 1994
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 637 KB
- Volume
- 43
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0146-6615
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✦ Synopsis
Abstract
The normal immune response after primary varicella‐zoster virus (VZV) infection includes IgG subclass evolution to predominantly IgG1‐type antibodies, and maturation from low to high avidity antibodies which are maintained for life. Twenty‐three healthy and apparently immuno‐competent children with a history of 2‐5 episodes of chickenpox were studied after repeat disease. Serial sera were tested for VZV‐IgG subclass patterns and VZV IgG and G‐subclass antibody avidity by urea elution enzyme linked immunoassay (ELISA). Of 11 patients studied within 8 weeks of repeat chickenpox (Early Group), mean antibody avidity was significantly lower (31.3 ± 26.81) than control (65.1 ± 12.38) (P < .001). Seven had low avidity antibody (<30 percent) and an abundance of IgG3 which was a pattern like primary chickenpox, and 2/11 had high avidity antibody characteristic of anamnestic responses. Early Group patients and 12 others studied over 8 weeks after repeat disease (Late Group) showed avidity maturation and attrition of IgG subclass antibodies other than IgG1. At least nine children failed to show VZV‐specific secondary (memory) immune responses early in the course of repeat disease. It is possible that failure to maintain or evoke a secondary immune response could explain their susceptibility to repeat chickenpox. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.