EVALUATION OF INTENSITY OF HUMORAL IMMUNITY TO MEASLES AND RUBELLA IN PREGNANT WOMEN IN MOSCOW

Aim. Qualitative and quantitative evaluation of humoral immunity regarding causative agents of controllable infections in pregnant women in Moscow. Materials and methods. Sera of 559 pregnant and 201 non-pregnant women were studied for the presence of antibodies against measles and rubella virus by ELISA. Results. A significant proportion of individuals seronegative to measles was detected among pregnant (21.5%) and non-pregnant (29.1%) women aged 18 - 45, that exceeds the level acceptable by regulatory requirements by 3.1 and 4.2 times, respectively. The parameter increased with age and among seropositive individuals a high concentration of IgG against measles was noted. This gives evidence, that older individuals are not covered by measles vaccination enough, and a significant part of them has post-infection immunity that is higher and more robust compared with post-vaccination. Regarding rubella infection, a more favorable situation was established: proportion of seronegative individuals among the examined was 8.9 and 10.5%, respectively. The proportion of seronegative individuals decreased with age, and by age 36 - 45 reached the minimal 4,7%. A maximum amount of rubella seronegative individuals was detected in the 26-30 age group - 12.5%, as well as maximum proportion of individuals who have high concentration of specific IgG. An increase of the amount of seronegative results was observed with the increase of gestation period for both infections. Correlation between intensity of immunity against measles and rubella in the examined women was not present. Conclusion. Means for development of extra vaccination of the adult population and execution of laboratory examination of pregnant and women planning pregnancy are proposed regarding not only rubella, but also measles.

measles, rubella, pregnancy, humoral immunity