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. 2024 Nov 14;16(11):e73677.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.73677. eCollection 2024 Nov.

Seroconversion of SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies in Pregnant Women During the Second Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic in India: A Longitudinal Study

Kandala Aparna Sharma  1 , Nilanchali Singh  1 , Anapti Anil  1 , Sara Hillman  2 , Purva Mathur  3 , Kapil Yadav  4 , Shivam Pandey  4 , Vatsla Dadhwal  1 , Saloni Kamboj  1
Affiliations

Seroconversion of SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies in Pregnant Women During the Second Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic in India: A Longitudinal Study

Kandala Aparna Sharma et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

Aim This study aims to investigate the seroconversion of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnant women during their first and third trimesters, specifically during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methodology This is a longitudinal follow-up study of pregnant women during the second peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients in their first trimester (six to 12 weeks) were tested for SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG levels, with a repeat test conducted in the third trimester (28-40 weeks) using the automated VIDAS® (bioMérieux SA, Marcy-l'Étoile, France) system. Samples were compared to assess seroconversion rates. Results In the current study, 120 of the 298 eligible women were followed through to the third trimester. Seroconversion of SARS-CoV-2 IgG from the first to third trimester was observed in 28 women (23.3%), including six women (21.4%) who developed SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies in the third trimester, and 22 women (78.5%) who were IgG positive in the first trimester but became IgG negative by the third trimester. Seroconversion of SARS-CoV-2 IgM from the first to third trimester was observed in 15 women (12.5%), of whom three women (25%) developed SARS-CoV-2 IgM antibodies in the third trimester, while 12 women (80%) who had these antibodies earlier no longer retained them by the third trimester. Conclusions The seroconversion rate during pregnancy is high, and natural immunity acquired through infection may not provide long-term protection, even over the course of the pregnancy.

Keywords: covid antibodies; pandemic; pregnancy; sero-epidemiological; vaccination.

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Conflict of interest statement

Human subjects: Consent for treatment and open access publication was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Institute Ethics Committee, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi issued approval IEC- 38/08.01.2021. Approved from ethical angle prospectively w.e.f 27th Jan 2021. Animal subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve animal subjects or tissue. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: The grants were received from the research funds of All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work.

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