Antibody-dependent enhancement is the enhanced entry and replication of a virus as a result of preexisting sub-neutralizing antibodies. Though further investigation is required, this mechanism would explain why increased total antibody count is associated with poor patient outcome.


Smith College

While IgM and IgG are both SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies, the level of IgG is more closely correlated with the severity of the disease and therefore can be used to evaluate severity and prognosis. However, a quicker test can be done on the total antibody level, in which higher levels are indicative of worse patient outcomes.

Increased Antibodies

Yang, Li, et al. “COVID-19: Immunopathogenesis and Immunotherapeutics.” Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy, vol. 5, no. 1, 2020, doi:10.1038/s41392-020-00243-2.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41392-020-00243-2

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