Corresponding author: Shunji Suzuki, czg83542@mopera.ne.jp
DOI: 10.31662/jmaj.2022-0113
Received: May 21, 2022
Accepted: July 14, 2022
Advance Publication: September 12, 2022
Published: October 17, 2022
Cite this article as:
Suzuki S. Current Prevalence of Rubella Antibodies in Pregnant Women at a Japanese Perinatal Center. JMA J. 2022;5(4):543-545.
Key words: pregnancy, rubella antibody titer, rubella vaccine, Japan
Rubella is usually a mild infectious disease, often accompanied by a rash. In pregnant women, however, rubella infection can result in miscarriage, stillbirth, and a series of disabilities known as congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) (1), (2).
Rubella antibody titer <1:32, as measured by the hemagglutination inhibition (HI) test, has been considered (3), (4), (5). Therefore, in the guidelines for obstetrical practice in Japan, the administration of the rubella vaccine to nonpregnant women with a rubella HI antibody titer <1:32 has been recommended (6). However, CRS prevalence is still rising in some countries where a part of the population lacks immunity to rubella despite the presence of rubella-containing vaccines in the regular immunization program (7).
In our earlier study (8), the proportion of pregnant women with sufficient rubella HI antibody titers (≥1:32) between 2014 and 2018 was 83%-85% at our institute. Recently, many local governments in Japan, including the area where our institute is located, have provided public funding for vaccines for nonpregnant women whose rubella HI antibody titer <1:32 as preconception care (9), (10). Therefore, it is expected that the proportion of pregnant women with sufficient rubella HI antibody titers have recently increased.
Based on this background, we examined the rate of pregnant women with sufficient rubella HI antibody titers and the effectiveness of rubella vaccination as preconception care.
This retrospective study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Japanese Red Cross Katsushika Maternity Hospital (=our institute, K2019-30). Informed consent for the retrospective analysis of data was obtained from all subjects at their first perinatal visit. In our institute, all women undergo rubella HI antibody measurement with Japanese public expense during early pregnancy (8), (10). The rubella HI antibody measurement has been performed in the same lab with the same protocol in our institute since before the period of the previous study (8). At the time of the measurement, we interviewed them about their history of rubella infection and rubella vaccination.
In this study, the obstetric records of all Japanese women who underwent rubella HI antibody measurement between January and March 2021 were reviewed. We calculated the rate of pregnant women who were rubella-vaccinated with sufficient rubella HI antibody titers with or without rubella vaccination as preconception care. The data are presented as numbers and/or percentages (%).
Table 1 shows the prevalence of rubella HI antibody titers in pregnant women with and without a history of rubella vaccination as preconception care. As a whole, the proportion of pregnant women with sufficient rubella HI antibody titers was 63.4% in 2021, which decreased from that in 2014-2018 (85%-87%). Twenty pregnant women (7.5%) had been vaccinated against rubella within two years before pregnancy as preconception care; however, the rate of acquisition of sufficient rubella HI antibody titers by the vaccination was only 70% (14/20).
Table 1. Prevalence of rubella antibody titer using the hemagglutination inhibition test in pregnant women with and without vaccination as preconception care (at prepregnancy).
| Pregnant women with vaccination as preconception care | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| No | Yes | Total | |
| Total Rubella antibody titer* |
248 | 20 | 268 |
| <1:8 | 13 (5.2) | 2 (10) | 15 (5.6) |
| 1:8 | 32 (12.9) | 1 (5) | 33 (12.3) |
| 1:16 | 47 (19.0) | 3 (15) | 50 (18.7) |
| (<1:32) | 92 (37.1) | 6 (30) | 98 (36.6) |
| 1:32 | 65 (26.2) | 6 (30) | 71 (26.5) |
| 1:64 | 38 (15.3) | 5 (25) | 43 (16.0) |
| 1:128 | 31 (12.5) | 2 (10) | 33 (12.3) |
| 1:256 | 14 (5.6) | 1 (5) | 15 (5.6) |
| >1:256 | 8 (3.2) | 0 (0) | 8 (3.0) |
| (≥1:32) | 156 (62.9) | 14 (70) | 170 (63.4) |
| Data are presented as numbers (percentages). *Rubella antibody titer was measured using the hemagglutination inhibition test. |
|||
Based on these results, although the awareness of prepregnancy rubella vaccination as preconception care has been gradually expanding in Japan, the effects may be incomplete.
We understand that the short study period and small sample size are serious limitations of the study. The information obtained from the interviews may not be reliable. In this retrospective study, we did not examine the detailed vaccination histories, such as routine immunization or booster vaccination. Additionally, the women who received vaccination at prepregnancy may be a population with low antibody acquisition ability against rubella.
In this study, one of the other concerns may be a subtle interpretation of the results of rubella HI tests. For example, a single dilution difference may make a significant difference in the interpretation of the results. Additionally, we cannot deny the possibility of a waning pattern of the antibody in the study subjects. Although the rubella HI test has been done with the same protocol in the same lab, we may need to keep in mind these concerns.
In this study, the current rates of sufficient rubella HI antibody titers in pregnant women following vaccination were considered insufficient. Moreover, the effect of prepregnancy rubella vaccination on women may be incomplete. To prevent and control CRS, rising awareness of vaccination campaigns regardless of sex may be necessary for Japan.
None
Shunji Suzuki: project development, data management, data analysis, and manuscript writing/editing.
The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Japanese Red Cross Katsushika Maternity Hospital (K2019-30).
Patients’ informed consent for the publication of this report was obtained.
Winter AK, Moss WJ. Rubella. Lancet. 2022;399(10332):1336-46.
Terada K. Rubella and congenital rubella syndrome in Japan: epidemiological problems. Jpn J Infect Dis. 2003;56(3):81-7.
Ihara T. [Measles-rubella combination vaccine]. J Pediatr Pract. 2009;72(12):2281-6. Japanese.
Skendzel LP. Rubella immunity. Defining the level of protective antibody. Am J Clin Pathol. 1996;106(2):170-4.
Matter L, Kogelschatz K, Germann D. Serum levels of rubella virus antibodies indicating immunity: response to vaccination of subjects with low or undetectable antibody concentrations. J Infect Dis. 1997;175(4):749-55.
Minakami H, Maeda T, Fujii T, et al. Guidelines for obstetrical practice in Japan: Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology (JSOG) and Japan Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (JAOG) 2014 edition. J Obstet Gynaecol Res. 2014;40(6):1469-99.
Toizumi M, Vo HM, Dang DA, et al. Clinical manifestations of congenital rubella syndrome: a review of our experience in Vietnam. Vaccine. 2019;37(1):202-9.
Haruna Y, Suzuki S. Prevalence of rubella antibodies: comparison between women with pregnancy induced by infertility treatments and those with spontaneous pregnancy. J Prevent Med Hyg. 2021;61(4):E553-5.
Hirahara F, Okuda M, Kurasawa K. [Campaign for rubella elimination: nationwide Rubella-zero project in Japan]. Clinical Virology. 2018;46(5):389-96. Japanese.
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare [Internet]. Rubella. [cited 2022 May 20]. Available from: https://www.mhlw.go.jp/seisakunitsuite/bunya/kenkou_iryou/kenkou/kekkaku-kansenshou/rubella/index.html.
Download PDF