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. 2021 Jun 14;49(6):702-708.
doi: 10.1515/jpm-2021-0166. Print 2021 Jul 27.

SARS-CoV-2 in pregnancy and possible transfer of immunity: assessment of peripartal maternal and neonatal antibody levels and a longitudinal follow-up

Katharina Rathberger  1 , Sebastian Häusler  1   2 , Sven Wellmann  3 , Marco Weigl  1 , Florian Langhammer  3 , Maria Victoria Bazzano  4 , Andreas Ambrosch  5 , Sara Fill Malfertheiner  1   6
Affiliations

SARS-CoV-2 in pregnancy and possible transfer of immunity: assessment of peripartal maternal and neonatal antibody levels and a longitudinal follow-up

Katharina Rathberger et al. J Perinat Med. .

Abstract

Objectives: In the current Severe Acute Respiratory Distress Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic there is still great uncertainty about the effects of an infection in pregnancy especially regarding a possible fetal transmission of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 and the longevity of this immunity.

Methods: Sixteen women who were infected with SARS-CoV-2 during pregnancy and their offspring were included. The antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 was measured in mother and umbilical cord blood peripartum and in a follow-up examination 6-11 weeks after birth. Medical history, symptoms regarding SARS-CoV-2, obstetric and neonatal information were queried following recommendations by the WHO.

Results: A total of 73% of the women and one third of the infants developed antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein receptor binding domain (RBD), with a long interval between infection and birth proving favorable for a transplacentar transfer of antibodies to the neonates. All infants showed declining or vanishing antibody-titers in the follow-up examination, while the titers of their mothers were stable or even increased.

Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that transplacental transfer of SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies is possible, but also indicate that the immunity that may be gained as a result might decrease in newborns postpartum. This provides important evidence that could be useful for further studies covering vaccination during pregnancy.

Keywords: IgA; IgG; SARS-CoV-2; immunity; peripartum period; pregnancy; screening.

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