An audit of rubella IgG antibody status in antenatal women in a NHS Trust over 5 years (2005-2009).
Rubella, a vaccine-preventable infection. This study examined the antibody status of 11 987 pregnant women during 2005-2009. Results showed a non-significant decrease in those with antibody levels of <4·0 IU/ml from 29/2312 (1·3%) in 2005 to 21/2447 (0·9%) in 2009 (χ² for linear trend=0·279, P=0·56) but a significant increase in those with levels of <10 IU/ml from 88/2312 (3·8%) in 2005 to 124/2447 (5·1%) in 2009 (χ² for linear trend=10·27, P=0·001). In women born before 1983 (pre-pubertal vaccination) the proportion of first pregnancies with titres <4 IU was 1·1% (21/2002) compared to 3·4% (69/2022) in those born after 1983 (χ²=25·176, P<0·0001) and 2·2% (44/2002) for titres <10 IU compared to 14·0% (282/2022) for those born after 1983 (χ²=171·43, P<0·0001). The potential impact of the increase is difficult to determine, requiring further monitoring. This paper discusses the effect of changing immunization programmes on rubella susceptibility in pregnant women.
Virology Laboratory, Pathology, Royal Glamorgan Hospital, South Wales, UK. linda.matthews@wales.nhs.uk
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D008403:Mass Screening; D022542:Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012409:Rubella / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D022542:Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine; C040901:rubella antibodies