Age, sex, and household exposure are associated with the acute measles-specific antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity antibody response.

To determine whether functional antibody responses correlate with factors associated with severe measles, measles-specific antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and neutralizing antibodies were measured in 114 Filipino children with measles. Children > 24 months old were more likely to have ADCC antibody in acute sera than were those < or = 24 months (odds ratio = 3.6, 95% confidence interval = 1.7-7.8). This age-related difference in ADCC prevalence was most apparent between younger and older girls. Among children < or = 24 months, a higher prevalence of ADCC antibody was associated with male sex, absence of lymphopenia, and household exposure to measles. The presence of ADCC antibody was not associated with malnutrition or diarrhea. Neutralizing antibody titers were lower in children with lymphopenia but showed no relationship with the other variables. Thus, the ADCC antibody response is associated with some risk factors related to measles severity. Attenuation of this response may contribute to the severity of infection.