All issues > Volume 36(11); 1993

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1993;36(11):1555-1561. Published online November 15, 1993.

A Study on Serum Immunoglobulins and Complements in Newborn Infants by Gestational Weeks

Ji Eun JE Lee¹, Kyung Hyo KH Kim¹, Kyung Hee KH Kim¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, Ewha University, College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

Abstract

The author investigated serum immunoglobulin (IgG, IgA, and IgM) and complements (C3) of cord blood in 74 cases of normal fulterm infants and 50 cases of premature infants. Serum immunolglobulin and complement levels were measured by the single radial immunodiffusion method. The following results were obtained ; 1) The mean serum IgG levels of cord blood in 74 cases of the normal full term infants was 1407.3¡¾230.5mg/dl. 2) The mean serum IgG levels of cord blood in 50 cases of the premature infants was 675.2¡¾329.4mg/dl., In comparison of serum IgG levels between the premature infants and the normal full term infants, serum IgG levels in the premature infants was significantly lower than that level of the normal infants(P<0.05). 3) The serum IgA levels measured in 28(37.8%) of 74 cases of the normal full term infants and in 6(12%) of 50 cases of the premature infants. The seurm IgA levels measured ranged from 0.4mg/dl to 3.7mg/dl in the normal full term infants and ranged from 0.4mg/dl to 2.4mg/dl in the premature infants. 4) The mean serum IgM levels of cord blood in 74 cases of the normal full term infants was 4.05¡¾3.53mg/dl and that in 50 cases of the premature infants was 2.20¡¾2.15mg/dl 5) The mean serum C3 levels of cord blood in 74 cases of normal full term infants was 49.7¡¾18.1mg/dl and those of the premature infants was 30.9¡¾10.5mg/dl. In comparison of serum C3 levels between the premature infants and the normal full term infants, the mean levels of serum C3 in the premature infants was significantly lower. A statistically significant increase of IgG and C3 levels of cord blood in newborn infants were observed in accordance with the increase of the gestational age. It has been suggested that decreased IgG levels among premature infants may provide a rationale for prophylactic gamma globulin administration.

Keywords :Serum immunoglobulin, complement