Quantitative SARS-CoV-2 Serology in Children With Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome (MIS-C)

  • Christina A. Rostad
  • , Ann Chahroudi
  • , Grace Mantus
  • , Stacey A. Lapp
  • , Mehgan Teherani
  • , Lisa Macoy
  • , Keiko M. Tarquinio
  • , Rajit K. Basu
  • , Carol Kao
  • , W. Matthew Linam
  • , Matthew G. Zimmerman
  • , Pei Yong Shi
  • , Vineet D. Menachery
  • , Matthew E. Oster
  • , Srilatha Edupuganti
  • , Evan J. Anderson
  • , Mehul S. Suthar
  • , Jens Wrammert
  • , Preeti Jaggi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

109 Scopus citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to measure severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) serological responses in children hospitalized with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) compared with those with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), those with Kawasaki disease (KD), and hospitalized pediatric controls. METHODS: From March 17, 2020, to May 26, 2020, we prospectively identified hospitalized children with MIS-C (n = 10), symptomatic COVID-19 (n = 10), and KD (n = 5) and hospitalized controls (n = 4) at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. With institutional review board approval, we obtained prospective and residual blood samples from these children and measured SARS-CoV-2 spike receptor-binding domain (RBD) immunoglobulin M and immunoglobulin G (IgG), full-length spike IgG, and nucleocapsid protein antibodies using quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies using live-virus focus-reduction neutralization assays. We statistically compared the log-transformed antibody titers among groups and performed linear regression analyses. RESULTS: All children with MIS-C had high titers of SARS-CoV-2 RBD IgG antibodies, which correlated with full-length spike IgG antibodies (R2 = 0.956; P, .001), nucleocapsid protein antibodies (R2 = 0.846; P, .001), and neutralizing antibodies (R2 = 0.667; P, .001). Children with MIS-C had significantly higher SARS-CoV-2 RBD IgG antibody titers (geometric mean titer 6800; 95% confidence interval 3495–13 231) than children with COVID-19 (geometric mean titer 626; 95% confidence interval 251–1563; P, .001), children with KD (geometric mean titer 124; 95% confidence interval 91–170; P, .001), and hospitalized controls (geometric mean titer 85; P, .001). All children with MIS-C also had detectable RBD immunoglobulin M antibodies, indicating recent SARS-CoV-2 infection. RBD IgG titers correlated with the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (R2 = 0.512; P, .046) and with hospital (R2 = 0.548; P = .014) and ICU lengths of stay (R2 = 0.590; P = .010). CONCLUSIONS: Quantitative SARS-CoV-2 serology may have a role in establishing the diagnosis of MIS-C, distinguishing it from similar clinical entities, and stratifying risk for adverse outcomes.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere2020018242
JournalPediatrics
Volume146
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1 2020

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