Immunological changes in a cohort of COVID-19 survivors: Mansoura University experience

Tamer Elhadidy; Heba Wagih Abdelwahab; Doaa Shahin; Asem Hewidy; Eman Khashaba; Rehab Ahmad Elmorsey; Nermin Abo El Kheir; Elsayed A Eid; Ahmed El-Mesery; Marwa O Elmaria

doi:10.12688/f1000research.134565.2

Immunological changes in a cohort of COVID-19 survivors: Mansoura University experience

F1000Res. 2023 Aug 29:12:793. doi: 10.12688/f1000research.134565.2. eCollection 2023.

Affiliations

¹ Chest Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Dakahlia Governorate, 35516, Egypt.
² Clinical Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Dakahlia Governorate, 35516, Egypt.
³ Public Health & Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Dakahlia Governorate, 35516, Egypt.
⁴ Medicine and Endocrinology, Faculty of Medicine, Delta University for Science and Technology, Belkas, Dakahlia Governorate, 7730103, Egypt.
⁵ Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Dakahlia Governorate, 35516, Egypt.

Abstract

Background: COVID-19 is a global pandemic that has affected millions of people all over the world since 2019. Infection with COVID-19 initiates a humoral immune response that produces antibodies against specific viral antigens, which in turn is supposed to provide immunity against reinfection for a period of time. The aim of this research was to study the kinetics of IgM and IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. Methods: One hundred and seventeen post-COVID-19 participants were enrolled in the study. Qualitative assessment of IgM and IgG antibodies over six months (three visits) post recovery was conducted. Results: The current study revealed a significant reduction in IgM and IgG titers between the first and second visits (p <0.001). After six months, the antibody titer had declined by 78.8% from the first visit for IgM and by 49.2% for IgG antibodies. Regarding younger age and male sex, statistically significant persistence of IgM antibodies was noticed at the six months follow up. Also, statistically significant persistent IgG immunity was found in male patients and diabetics by the end of the six months follow up. Conclusions: We observed a significant waning of IgM and IgG titers over a period of six months follow up.. The persistence of positive IgM and IgG antibodies by the end of six months was variable due to differences in age, gender and presence of diabetes mellitus.

Keywords: COVID-19; IgG; IgM; Post COVID immunity; antibodies; diabetes; follow up study.

Grants and funding

This study was funded by Mansoura University as a part of research project. The fund was directed to purchasing equipment for the new post-COVID clinic and chemicals used in lab testing (Grant number: Mu-med-20-27).