title: Levels of antibodies specific to tetanus toxoid, Haemophilus influenzae type b, and pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide in healthy children and adults.
abstract: Antibody levels specific for capsular polysaccharides of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and for tetanus toxoid were measured in serum samples of 386 age-stratified subjects. The study group consists of healthy adult blood donors and hospitalized children undergoing elective surgery, excluding individuals with a history of infection. In children, anti-tetanus toxoid antibody levels displayed two peaks of 1.20 IU/ml (20.4 mg/liter) and 1.65 IU/ml (28.1 mg/liter) related to the schedule of routine childhood immunization in the first year and at 8 years of age. Eighty percent of the antibodies are of the immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) isotype. For pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide (PCP), the specific antibody levels represent the acquisition of natural immunity. The initial concentration of 9.2 mg/liter was low in infancy (0.5 to 1 years of age) and remained low until 3 to 4 years of age (14.6 mg/liter). During this period PCP antibodies were almost 100% of the IgG2 subclass. Thereafter, IgG anti-PCP antibody titers increased steadily to adult levels (59.5 mg/liter). The data are intended to provide reference ranges to aid in the interpretation of specific antibody determinations in the clinical setting.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Kinder- und Jugendmedizin der Ruhr Universität, Bochum, Germany. uwe.schauer@ruhr-uni-bochum.de
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Schauer
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Stemberg
authors.forename: Christian H L
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Rieger
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Büttner
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Borte
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schubert
authors.forename: Helga
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Möllers
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Riedel
authors.forename: Udo
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Herz
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Renz
authors.forename: Wilhelm
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Herzog
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D016667:Bacterial Capsules / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D019741:Haemophilus influenzae type b / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D012016:Reference Values; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000276:immunology*; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid