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While patient groups at risk for severe COVID-19 infections are now well identified, the risk factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) transmission and immunization are still poorly understood. In a cohort of staff members of a Belgian tertiary academic hospital tested for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies during the early phase of the pandemic and followed-up after 6 weeks, 3 months and 10 months, we collected personal, occupational and medical data, as well as symptoms based on which we constructed a COVID-19 score. Seroprevalence was higher among participants in contact with patients or with COVID-19 confirmed subjects or, to a lesser extent, among those handling respiratory specimens, as well as among participants reporting an immunodeficiency or a previous or active hematological malignancy, and correlated with several symptoms. In multivariate analysis, variables associated with seropositivity were: contact with COVID-19 patients, immunodeficiency, previous or active hematological malignancy, anosmia, cough, nasal symptoms, myalgia, and fever. At 10 months, participants in contact with patients and those with higher initial COVID-19 scores were more likely to have sustained antibodies, whereas those with solid tumors or taking chronic medications were at higher risk to become seronegative., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Asymptomatic and pauci-symptomatic cases contribute to underestimating the prevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections. Moreover, we have few studies available on the longitudinal follow-up of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies after natural infection. We tested staff members of a Belgian tertiary academic hospital for SARS-CoV-2 IgG, IgM, and IgA antibodies. We analyzed the evolution of IgM and IgG after 6 weeks, and the persistence of IgG after 3 and 10 months. At the first evaluation, 409/3776 (10.8%) participants had a positive SARS-CoV-2 serology. Among initially seropositive participants who completed phases 2 and 3, IgM were still detected after 6 weeks in 53.1% and IgG persisted at 12 weeks in 82.0% (97.5% of those with more than borderline titers). IgG levels were higher and increased over time in symptomatic but were lower and stable in asymptomatic participants. After 10 months, 88.5% of participants had sustained IgG levels (97.0% of those with more than borderline titers)., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Diabetes mellitus is a frequent metabolic disease characterised by a complex and inconstant phenotypic expression that complicates the classification of patients and sometimes delays their optimal management. In that slowly progressive disease leading to severe and irreversible complications, the use of early and specific genetic, immunological and/or metabolic markers may help in the classification of diabetic patients and in the orientation of therapeutic strategies; furthermore, it is also an essential aid in the early screening of subjects at risk of developing the disease. The assessment of classical immunological markers, such as islet cell antibodies (ICA) or anti-insulin antibodies (IAA) has been recently completed by the screening of new promising markers such as GAD- and IA2-antibodies. The presence of these markers confirms the autoimmune component of the disease and thus supports the diagnosis of type 1 diabetes, even if clinical symptoms are absent or inconsistent. In addition, it represents a strong argument in favour of the initiation of specific immunological therapies to preserve B-cell number and function.