Herpes simplex specific IgA antibody in patients with primary or recurrent genital herpes

By using the ELISA test, IgA antibody HSV was detected in 69% of acute phase sera while a corresponding value for convalescent phase sera was 87.5% in patients with first episode genital HSV infection. The equivalent of a four-fold rise in HSV IgA antibody titer was detected in 40% of patients. The serum level of IgA peaked at 11-21 days after illness. In recurrent genital HSV infection, 15% of the patients had no detectable IgA antibody peaked earlier than for first episode HSV infection. A significant inverse correlation [P < 0.0005] was found between the titre of HSV antibody and the frequency of recurrences