Dr. Rauba, coronavirus patient, after an antibody test: I better not do it

After developing COVID-19, Rauba said that she had acquired immunity, so, as she said, she felt quite brave and examined the patients with her bare hands.

However, studies carried out at the Santara clinics in November showed that SARS-CoV-2 class immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies were almost non-existent. The antibody titer fell to 0.17 when the rate, according to the doctor, is higher than 1.4.

“I had better not done that research already, because I looked at all the patients with my own hands and was as brave as the Green Cucumber, which is not afraid of water. Well, I hope that my other internal and external defense mechanisms, already familiar with the virus, are ready for the second wave ”, wrote Dr. D. Rauba on the social network Facebook.

Title: from 5 to 0.17

The doctor recalled that during the first wave of coronavirus, doctors with COVID-19 in the Santara clinics were urged to donate blood to allow the administration of plasma with antibodies to seriously ill patients, as research has shown that it could facilitate the virus. As a result, the antibody titer had to be tested.

“I had also expressed a desire to become a donor, but I was not being screened at the time. And some of us who got sick were tested and measured for antibodies. About a month after illness, it ranged from 5 to 10, for one of us who had the most serious illness, although he did not sleep in the hospital, that titer was very high, even 70 when the rate is higher than 1.4, “said Dr. D to Delfi. Rauba.

But it turned out that over time, the antibody titer decreases. The doctor found out about this from his Lithuanian colleague working in the US, who had to run a PCR test every time he returned to Lithuania from America in order to be able to isolate himself for a shorter period of time.

“He did research regularly, every few months. Originally he had an antibody titer of 5.5, 4.5 in August and now, in September, when he was under investigation before leaving for the United States, it was 1.8. The reaction is still above the norm, but it is already decreasing, “said the interlocutor.

The antibody titer of D. Rauba was initially greater than 5.

“It just came to our knowledge then. I thought: as much as I do, so much. But now the Santara clinic staff who have contracted the COVID-19 virus have been asked to donate blood for further research. I felt bold and at work: I wore masks, but I did not wear gloves every time I saw the patient. And when the results came in, it turned out that the titer was 0.17. It is practically not such antibodies, “he said. D. Rauba.

Units get sick again

The doctor explained that antibodies are particles made by B cells. This is the response to parts of the virus.

After reviewing scientific articles, he found that most people remained more or less persistent for another 3-4 months after receiving the coronavirus.

“The antibody measurement looks at immunoglobulins G, which show that you are infected with the virus. Immunoglobulin A is produced in response to a virus, a so-called secretory immunoglobulin that protects mucous membranes and the like. immunoglobulin M is in the active phase of the disease. Thus, immunoglobalins A and M disappear fairly quickly and are unlikely to remain in most relapsed patients during the first month. And the highest levels of IgG are generally reached two weeks to a month after illness. Then, according to various studies, within 2-3 months, for some, that title drops by 50 percent.

But there are not only antibodies produced by B cells, but also T cells. This is our cellular immunity, when our body responds to bacteria, viruses. They have even more memory and stimulate B cells to make these antibodies.

It is believed that although the antibodies in the blood are reduced or no longer present, the T cells still retain the memory of that agent. Only now is it unclear how long that memory is retained. As studied from March to April, cells remain active for up to 6 months. But in the absence of longer-term studies, it is initially unclear whether these cells can retain the memory of the virus for longer, ”explained Dr. Rauba.

According to the doctor, so far there are only units in the world that have been reinfected with coronavirus. So there are not many reasons to worry.

“Even though there are no antibodies left in the blood, those T cells, cellular immunity, retain memory. If you get a repeated dose of the virus, they suddenly recognize what is going through the virus and stimulate the B cells that start making those antibodies, “said the doctor.

According to the doctor, both the coronavirus vaccine is developed by taking a portion of the viral protein as the main objective to which our immune system responds.

Symptoms, such as colds

When asked to recall the beginning of his illness, Rauba said that he fell ill quite easily because there was no shortness of breath, no complications, and no damage to the lungs, kidneys or heart.

“My symptoms were cough, fever, smell, loss of taste. These are the standard symptoms of colds, ”said the doctor.

The affected doctor also measured the oxygen concentration in the blood, but it was not ingested below 90.

The temperature had risen to 38 degrees. But he said he got up because at first the doctor was not lying on the bed, something was still working: he was working with a computer, he was turning on the television. Later, realizing that what he was saying, “running” caused a rise in temperature, he stayed warm in bed for a few days in a row and drank a lot of tea.

After recovering from any residual COVID-19 illness, she didn’t feel: “I play like I play sports: I run cross country, I play volleyball, I walk to the sauna, the pressure doesn’t go up or anything. None of our twelve groups, where one of the first became ill at that time, did not have residual phenomena or injuries, “said the doctor.