Clinical correlations of SARS-CoV-2 antibody responses in patients with COVID-19 infection

DeSimone, M.; Simmons, D. P.; Tolan, N.; Melanson, S.; Petrides, A.; Tanasijevic, M.; Schur, P.

Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Understanding the clinical correlations of antibodies produced by infected individuals will be critical for incorporating antibody results into clinical management. This study was an observational cohort study to evaluate antibody responses in individuals with PCR-confirmed COVID-19, including 48 hospitalized patients diagnosed with COVID-19 by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) at a large tertiary care medical center. Serum samples were obtained from patients at various time points during the disease course and tested for IgM and IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. Medical records were reviewed, and antibody levels were compared with clinical and laboratory findings. Patients did not have high levels of antibodies within one week of symptoms, but most had detectable IgM and IgG antibodies between 8 and 29 days after onset of symptoms. Some individuals did not develop measurable levels of IgM or IgG antibodies. IgM antibodies were associated with elevated ALT, but there were no other significant associations. We did not observe significant associations of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies with clinical outcomes, including intubation and death. SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG antibodies were unlikely to be detected in the first week of infection or in severely immunocompromised individuals. Although we did not observe associations with clinical outcomes, IgM antibodies were associated with higher ALT levels. Antibody production reflects the virus-specific immune response, which is important for immunity but also drives pathology, and antibody levels may be important for guiding treatment of individuals with COVID-19.