[Measles and mumps antibody concentrations in newborns and their mothers--follow up first year of life]

Abstract

Background: During the last twenty years the incidence of measles and mumps decreased after introduction of vaccinations in the industrial nations. The vaccination rate of the population in Germany lies currently under the required elimination rate. The epidemiological situation has changed altogether. The illness age has on the one hand moved up, teenager and adult suffer more frequent these so-called children's diseases with an increased complication rate. On the other hand illness cases in infancy seeming to increase. It was aim of this study to examinate the current serological situation for measles and mumps antibody status in women in childbed and their healthy newborns at birth time and during the first seven to nine life months.

Patients and method: 237 healthy newborns, born in 1999 in Bochum, West-Germany and their mothers were included. The mothers were asked if and when they did suffer from measles and mumps or were questioned to active vaccinations against these diseases. Immediately antepartal from all mothers was taken a venous blood sample. Immediately postpartal from all newborn childs umbilical cord blood was taken and again a blood sample in the age of six to eight months. In the serum tests the measle and mumps IgG antibody concentrations were examined quantitatively with ELISA methods. In cases with negative or borderline positive values the plaque neutralization test was also used for measuring of the measle antibodies.

Conclusions: Between the maternal and neonatal titers results the knownly positive correlation. Maternal lending immunity against measle and mumps lasts more less into infancy as generally suspected. An earlier first active immunization against measles and mumps could be discussed. The strict realisation of the present vaccinating recommendations should be operated as a matter of priority to lead to the desired measles and mumps eradication.