All issues > Volume 24(6); 1981

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1981;24(6):517-524. Published online June 15, 1981.

Clinical Analysis of Cord Serum Immunoglobulin M.

Duk Jin Yun¹, Kwang Ho Kim¹, Kwan Sub Chung¹, Gui Nyung Lee²

¹Department of Pediatrics, Yonsei University, College of Medicine, Korea.
²Department of Clinical pathology, Yonsei University, College of Medicine, Korea.

Abstract

Determination of the immunoglobulin M(IgM) in umbilical cord sera has been advocated as a screening test for intrauterine infection, since the IgM is produced by the fetus and is not transported across the placenta from mother. The low level of IgM in normal neonate is thought to reflect the infrequent encounter of antigenic stimuli by the futus, upon exposure to an appropriate antigen, however, the fetus is capable of increased IgM production, as has been doucumented in infant with rubella syndrome, cytomegalic inclusion disease, toxoplasmosis and syphilis. But until now we don't have the normal value of cord serum IgM in Korean neonate yet. So we performed the study to determine the normal value of serum IgM in Korean neonate and further more we try to compare the value of other condition such as congenital syphilis, maternal infection during pregnancy other than syphilis and congenital anomalies. Results were as followes: 1. Normal value of cord Igm was 11.83+/-9.92 mg % 2. There was no sexual difference 3. Lowest levele were noted at small weight(2500 gm upwards arrow) and short gestation period(28 wk upwards arrow) but not significant thereafter 4. There was no difference by matenal age and socioeconomic status 5. In congenital syphilis there was significant increment of cord IgM compared with normal group 6. There was no significant increment of cord ISM in cogenital anomalies 7. After 6 months, IgM levels were increased to adult level.

Keywords :Immunoglobulin;intrauterine infection;cord blood