A Study of the Rubella Antibody in Korean Fertile Women in the Last 5 Years (1992~1996)

Park, Young Ja; Park, Kum Ja; Yoo, Kuk Young; Lee, Byung Kwan

Abstract

In the past two decades, the incidence of rubella infection has decreased due to a nation-wide rubella vaccination program. Therefore the rate of rubella Ig G antibody has decreased. This means an increasing vulnerability to rubella infection among the group, with negative Ig G antibodies. The study was conducted in January of 1992 to April of 1996. The subjects were 1,010 fertile women(ages 20/45 years). The study was performed at Park Women`s Clinic to investigate the status of rubella antibody in Korean fertile women. The results were as follows. 1. The positive rate of rubella Ig G and Ig M antibody were 80.5% and 1.5%, respectively. 2. The mean age of positive rubella Ig G group was 28.5+/-3.6 years. The positive rate of rubella Ig G antibody was decreased by an increase in age with a significant level at p < 0.05. 3. The positive rate of rubella Ig G antibody was 63.3% in 1992, 71.3% in 1993, 87.5% in 1994, 81.1% in 1995 and 83.8% in 1996. The increase in the positive rate of rubella Ig G antibody by year for 5 years was statistically significant at p < 0.05. 4. The positive rubella Ig M antibody was noted in 15 women. Among them, one woman was tested in 1993, 5 women in 1995 and 9 women in 1996. The incidence of rubella infection had increased by years, and was statistically significant at p < 0.05. 5. The mean titer of rubella Ig G antibody was 47.18+/-50.04 IU/ml. The titer of rubella Ig G antibody was decreased by the increased in at age(p < 0.05). We observed a low positive rate of rubella Ig G antibody as compaired with other studies that were performed before 1990. Therefore, to prevent sporadic rubella infections, rubella vaccinations should be given to unmarried women.