Antibodies remain in the human bloodstream for at least eight months after being infected with the coronavirus. The study by Italian scientists, conducted in collaboration with the National Institutes of Health of the country, published in the journal Nature Communications proves the theory.
According to reports, the study is based on data from 162 patients who applied to Italian hospitals for emergency treatment due to a coronavirus infection last year.
Antibody reduction in these patients began 5-8 weeks after the onset of symptoms but persisted for eight months, except in three people.
At the same time, the scientists noted that "neither the severity of COVID-19, nor the age, or the presence of many concomitant diseases affected the antibody kinetics and stability."
In addition, Italian researchers have drawn attention to the fact that the early development of antibodies affects the healing process from the coronavirus.
"Our results show that early detection of antibodies is critical to patient survival and virus control. This confirms the need for early monoclonal antibody therapy in some critically ill patients, and we believe that antibodies induced by prophylactic vaccination are likely to be long-term," the scientists concluded.
In their view, patients whose bodies were unable to produce antibodies within 15 days of being infected with the coronavirus have a higher risk of developing a severe course of the disease.
