Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies in HIV-Infected Patients in Rome, Italy during the COVID-19 Outbreak

Background: this study aimed to determine the proportion of people living with HIV (PLWH) with anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies in a large sample from a single HIV referral center in Rome, Italy; the time-frame included both the first and the second wave of the Italian COVID-19 pandemic; Methods: we c...

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Main Authors: Francesca Lombardi, Rosalba Ricci, Simone Belmonti, Massimiliano Fabbiani, Alberto Borghetti, Gianmaria Baldin, Arturo Ciccullo, Enrica Tamburrini, Elena Visconti, Maurizio Sanguinetti, Simona Di Giambenedetto
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-06-01
Series:Diagnostics
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/11/7/1154
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Summary:Background: this study aimed to determine the proportion of people living with HIV (PLWH) with anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies in a large sample from a single HIV referral center in Rome, Italy; the time-frame included both the first and the second wave of the Italian COVID-19 pandemic; Methods: we conducted a cross-sectional study on stored cryopreserved samples from 1 March 2020 to 30 November 2020. Total antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 were preliminarily tested using a chemiluminescent immunoassay. Positive results were re-tested with an ELISA assay as an IgG confirmatory test; Results: overall, 1389 samples were analyzed from 1106 PLWH: 69% males, median age 53 years, 94% on antiretroviral treatment, 93% with HIV-RNA < 50 copies/mL, median CD4 cell count 610 cell/µL. Our analysis revealed a total of n = 8 patients who tested IgG positive during the study period. Seroprevalence was equal to 0% in the first months (March–June); this started to increase in July and reached a maximum rate of 1.59% in October 2020. The overall seroprevalence was 0.72% (8/1106, 95% CI 0.37–1.42). Conclusion: our findings from this setting show a low IgG SARS-CoV-2 prevalence among PLWH as compared to data available from the general population.
ISSN:2075-4418