May 7, 2021

Delayed Production of Neutralizing Antibodies Correlates with Fatal  COVID-19

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Vaccines and Immunity

Keywords (Tags): immunity

• A study of humoral immune responses among 229 patients with asymptomatic, mild, moderate, and  severe COVID-19 found that persons with delayed neutralizing antibody generation had a higher risk  of mortality compared to survivors. Investigators collected multiple serum samples from patients  during the course of their illness and examined SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies and IgG levels. Although nearly all persons (85%) displayed some level of SARS-CoV-2 neutralization, development  of neutralizing antibodies within 14 days of symptom onset was associated with improved disease  trajectory. The authors note that antibody therapy may be most effective when administered as  early as possible after symptom onset. 

Lucas et al. (May 5, 2021). Delayed Production of Neutralizing Antibodies Correlates with Fatal  COVID-19. Nature Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-021-01355-0