All issues > Volume 29(1); 1986

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1986;29(1):58-71. Published online January 31, 1986.

A Study on Serum Immuoglobulins and Complements in Newborn Infants.

Song Soo Moon¹, Chang Soo Ra¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, Chosun University‘ College of Medicine, Kwang ju Korea

Abstract

The author investigated serum immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA, and IgM) and complements (C3and C4) of cord blood in 29 cases of normal fullterm infants, 14 cases of low birth weight infants (8 cases of premature infants) and 43 cases of their mothers at delivery. Serum immunoglobulin and complement levels were measured by the single radial immuno diffusion method (NISSUI, Japan). The following results were obtained; 1) The mean serum IgG levels of cord boold in 29 cases of the normal full term infants was 1352.6±237.8 mg/dl and that in 29 cases of the mother was 1054.1+307.4 mg/dl. In comparison of serum IgG levels between the normal full term infants and their mothers,serum IgG levels in normal full term infants was significantly higher than that of the mothers (p<0.001). 2) The mean serum IgG levels of cord blood in 14 cases of the low birth weight infants and 8 cases of the premature infants were 971.0±425.9 mg/dl and 816.8±366.1 mg/dl respectively. In comparison of serum IgG levels between the low birth weight infants or the premature infants and the normal full term infants, serum IgG levels in the low birth weight infants and the premature infants were significantly lower than that level of the normal full term infants (p<0.001). 3) IgA was measured in 3(10.3%) of 29 cases of the normal full term infants and in 5(35.1%) of 14 cases of low birth weight infants. The IgA levels measured ranged from 1.5 mg/dl to 3.8mg/dl, however the mean IgA levels in the mothers of the normal full term infants and the low birth weight infants were 174.2±52.7 and 175.8±60.1 mg/dl respectively. 4) The mean serum IgM level of cord blood in 29 cases of the normal full term infants was 8.57±3.98 mg/dl and that in 29 cases of the mothers was 171.8±41.7 mg/dl. In comparison of serum IgM levels between the normal full term infants and their mothers, serum IgM level in normal full term infants was significantly lower than that of the mothers (P<0.001). In comparison of serum IgM levels between the premature infants(6.3±4.6 mg/dl) and the normal full term infants, serum IgM level in the premature infants was significantly lower than that of the full term infants (p<0.005). 5) The mean serum C8 and C4 levels of cord blood in 29 cases of normal full term infants were 48.6±14.1 mg/dl and 18.6± 10.4 mg/dl respectively, and those of the mothers were 81.3+15.0 mg/dl and 28.2±10.7mg/dl respectively. In comparison of serum Cs and C< levels between the normal full term infants and their mothers, the mean levels of serum Cs and C4 in the normal full term infants were significantly lower than those of the mothers (p<0.001 and p<0.005 respectively). In comparison of serum Cs and C4 levels between the premature infants and the normal full term infants, the mean levels of serum Cs and C4 in the premature infants were significantly lower than those of the normal full term infants (P<0.001 and p<0.005 respectively). A statistically significant increase of Cs and C< levels of cord blood in newborn infants was observed in accordance with the increase of the gestational age. In conclussion, IgA and IgM antibody except IgG were not transferred to the fetus across placental barrier. The complement (C3 and C4) levels of the newborn infants were approximately the half of their mothers and it is suggested that fetus may synthesize considerable amount of complements before birth.

Keywords :Serum immunoglobulins and complements; Newborn infants