الفهرس 
INTRODUCTIONOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
A novel coronavirus known as SARS-CoV2 developed in the Chinese city of Wuhan by the end of 2019 and triggered an outbreak of atypical viral pneumonia. This unique coronavirus disease, also known as COVID-19, has spread rapidly over the world due to its high transmissibility. Antibody testing can identify convalescent plasma donors, those who may have immunity after being diseased or vaccinated, and those exposed to previous infection.
The objectives of this study were detecting SARS-CoV2 IgM response among home-isolated patients in Alexandria Governorate, comparing this response in different clinical presentations, and assessing the relationship between SARS-CoV2 IgM response and laboratory and radiological findings of those patients.
This cross-sectional study was conducted on 92 home-isolated PCR-confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients from July 2020 through March 2021. The blood samples were withdrawn 5 - 20 days after being positive for PCR or presenting with suspected symptoms. These samples were centrifuged at 3000 rpm. Separated serum was frozen at -20 ͦC until the time of testing for anti-SARS-CoV2 IgM by ELISA using Euroimmun kit anti-SARS-CoV2 IgM against N protein.
The results of the present study revealed that:
1. SARS-CoV2 IgM was positive in 40 (43.5%) of the studied patients.
2. SARS-CoV2 IgM was detected in 46.8% of patients positive for COVID-19 by PCR.
3. Females represented 59.8% and most of patients (72.8%) were married.
4. Most patients (98.9%) were symptomatic. Fever and cough were encountered in 81.3% and 56.0%, respectively.
5. Diabetes and hypertension were the most common COVID-19 associated comorbidities representing 38% and 25% of studied patients, respectively.
6. Many cases had a history of contact with confirmed COVID-19 patients either household (23.9%) or others (63.0%).
7. Leukopenia was present in 7.6% of patients. Most patients (84.8%) had normal leukocytic count.
8. Pneumonia was observed in 63 (68.5%) of COVID-19 studied patients.
9. SARS-CoV2 IgM was detected in 54% and 42.9% of radiologically diagnosed pneumonia and bronchitis, respectively.
10. IgM was detected among 57.5% of COVID-19 patients after the 1st week of the appearance of the symptoms.
11. SARS-CoV2 IgM was found in 52.9% of patients with cough with IgM ratio of 1.41.
12. Age category 40-60 years, male gender, and cough were predictors for positive IgM response (OR were 9.51, 3.712, and 3.017, respectively).
6.2. Conclusion
1. IgM was detected in almost half PCR confirmed COVID-19 patients.
2. The majority of the IgM-positive results were detected after the first week of the appearance of the symptoms.
3. Diabetes and hypertension were the most encountered comorbidities among COVID-19 patients.
4. Most of study participants had history of contact with confirmed cases.
5. There was no relation between the presence of SARS-CoV2 IgM and the laboratory or radiological findings.
6. There was a significant relation between the presence of cough and the positivity rates of SARS-CoV2 IgM.
7. Age category 40-60 years, male sex, and cough were predictors for positive IgM response.