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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2015 Jan 1.
Published in final edited form as: Rev Med Virol. 2013 Nov 14;24(1):55–70. doi: 10.1002/rmv.1773

Table 2. Clinical relevance of IgG in RSV infections in young infants.

RSV-specific IgG can be divided into IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, IgG4 and mAb IgG1. Contradictory data is present regarding the protective effects of total maternal IgG. Low avidity maternal IgG1 has been associated with an increased susceptibility to RSV infections. Palivizumab (mAb IgG1) has a protective effect against severe RSV infection in high-risk infants. IgG2-4 are either undetectable or only detected in the minority of young infants below the age of 6 months.

Type Total IgG IgG1 mAb IgG1 (Palivizumab) IgG2 IgG3 IgG4
Clinical relevance High titer:

  • Increased wheezing and hospitalization1

  • Reduced wheezing and hospitalization2

  • Reduced Ab response

 Low avidity:

  • Increased susceptibility to RSV infection3

 Monthly administration:

  • Reduced wheezing and hospitalization4

 Not detectable Detectable in the minority of young infants Not detectable
1

Amount of IgG measured by plaque reduction or reduction of RSV-induced cytopathic effect in in vtiro cell culture system;

2

Amount of IgG measured by EIA;

3

Avidity measured by using an antibody eluting agent (sodium thiocyanate);

4

Administered to high-risk and preterm infants