European Journal of Medical Research (Apr 2024)

Immunoglobulins in COVID-19 pneumonia: from the acute phase to the recovery phase

  • Joaquim Peraire,
  • Graciano García-Pardo,
  • Silvia Chafino,
  • Alba Sánchez,
  • Maryluz Botero-Gallego,
  • Montserrat Olona,
  • Sonia Espineira,
  • Laia Reverté,
  • Vasso Skouridou,
  • Óscar M. Peiró,
  • Fréderic Gómez-Bertomeu,
  • Francesc Vidal,
  • Ciara K. O’ Sullivan,
  • Anna Rull

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s40001-024-01824-5
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 29, no. 1
pp. 1 – 15

Abstract

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Abstract Background COVID-19 pneumonia causes hyperinflammatory response that culminates in acute respiratory syndrome (ARDS) related to increased multiorgan dysfunction and mortality risk. Antiviral-neutralizing immunoglobulins production reflect the host humoral status and illness severity, and thus, immunoglobulin (Ig) circulating levels could be evidence of COVID-19 prognosis. Methods The relationship among circulating immunoglobulins (IgA, IgG, IgM) and COVID-19 pneumonia was evaluated using clinical information and blood samples in a COVID-19 cohort composed by 320 individuals recruited during the acute phase and followed up to 4 to 8 weeks (n = 252) from the Spanish first to fourth waves. Results COVID-19 pneumonia development depended on baseline Ig concentrations. Circulating IgA levels together with clinical features at acute phase was highly associated with COVID-19 pneumonia development. IgM was positively correlated with obesity (ρb = 0.156, P = 0.020), dyslipemia (ρb = 0.140, P = 0.029), COPD (ρb = 0.133, P = 0.037), cancer (ρb = 0.173, P = 0.007) and hypertension (ρb = 0.148, P = 0.020). Ig concentrations at recovery phase were related to COVID-19 treatments. Conclusions Our results provide valuable information on the dynamics of immunoglobulins upon SARS-CoV-2 infection or other similar viruses.

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