Transplacental transfer of measles antibody in Delhi

Abstract

Objective: To find out the patterns of and the factors, if any, affecting the transplacental transfer of measles antibody.

Design: Comparison of measles antibody titres in mothers with titres in cord blood samples.

Methods: Maternal and cord blood samples from 174 full-term pregnant women of middle socio-economic status were tested for hemagglutination inhibition (HI) antibody against measles in Delhi during October 1993 to January 1995. None of the mothers had been immunized against measles.

Results: Antibody were undetectable in both maternal and cord samples in only 4 (2.3%) pairs. Mean maternal titre was found to be 2.94 Log2. Transplacental concentration and dilution were respectively observed in 34% and 26% of the samples. Cord titres were more often higher than the maternal values only if the maternal values were low. Overall, cord/maternal ratio of mean titre (Log2) was found to be 1.06. Although the age of the mother and parity had had no significant bearing on the transplacental transfer of measles antibody, cord titres were significantly more often higher than the maternal values as the birth weight increased (Chi-square for linear trend = 5.4; p = 0.02).

Conclusions: The study failed to show appreciable concentration of measles antibodies across the placenta.