title: Illness severity, viral shedding, and antibody responses in infants hospitalized with bronchiolitis caused by respiratory syncytial virus.
abstract: The relationships between host factors, viral shedding, illness severity, and antibody response in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-induced bronchiolitis are poorly defined. These relationships were prospectively evaluated in 77 infants hospitalized with RSV bronchiolitis in multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials of RSV immunoglobulin therapy. Severity of illness was influenced by age and host risk factors but was not influenced by RSV neutralizing antibody titer or by the amount of virus in nasal secretions at enrollment. Virus recovery in nasal secretions was variable but was highest at enrollment. Viral shedding was not influenced by primary diagnosis, antibody titer, age, or duration of acute respiratory illness before enrollment. In intubated patients, the amounts of virus recovered in nasal secretions and endotracheal aspirates were highly correlated. A serum neutralizing antibody response was seen in 64% of subjects who received placebo. The response was not influenced by age, primary diagnosis, amount of virus recovered, or severity of illness but was suppressed by preexisting antibody.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pediatrics, Medical Center, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232-2581, USA. peter.wright@mcmail.vanderbilt.edu
authors.forename: Peter F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: William C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Gruber
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Reed
authors.forename: Yuwei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Frances
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: Shanita
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Coleman-Dockery
authors.forename: Barney S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Graham
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D001988:Bronchiolitis / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D012136:Respiratory Syncytial Viruses / Q000302:isolation & purification; D017201:Virus Shedding
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral