Postnatal decline of maternally acquired rubella antibodies.
The postnatal decline of maternally acquired rubella antibody was studied in a large group of infants. A high degree of variability was found in the rate of antibody decline (half-life). Ninety-two babies had rubella antibody half-lives lying between 14 and 70 days and three had values considerably higher. There was no significant difference between the rubella antibody half-lives of the sexes. The antibody titre at birth was weakly correlated with both birth weight and gestational age. There was a highly significant positive correlation between the baby's antibody titre at birth and that of its mother. There was a positive relationship between the half-life and the persistence of rubella antibody. Some babies had no detectable antibody by 2 months whereas others still possessed antibody at 9 months. It was found that the relationship between the half-life and the rubella antibody titre at or near birth could be described by a rectangular hyperbola.
D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D001724:Birth Weight; D004200:Diseases in Twins / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006385:Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D012409:Rubella / Q000276:immunology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D013997:Time Factors
D000906:Antibodies