Immunoglobulin and C3 levels in maternal and cord blood in Jamaica
Prabhakar, P.; Singhi, S.; Sharma, A.; James, O.
Tropical and Geographical Medicine 37(4): 304-308
1985
ISSN/ISBN: 0041-3232 PMID: 4095767 Document Number: 251140
Immunoglobins IgG, IgM and IgA and C3 were estimated by radial immunodiffusion (RID) in 100 paired maternal and cord blood samples. The mean maternal IgG, IgM and IgA were 2112, 118 and 251 mg/100 ml, respectively; in corresponding infants, the mean values were 2194, 36 and 19 mg/100 ml. Mean cord serum C3 was 113 mg/100 ml, about half the maternal value (203 mg/100 ml). Variation in the gestational age, birthweight, duration of labour and maternal pre-eclamptic toxaemia did not significantly affect the immunoglobulin values. Of 36 cord blood samples with IgM above 36 mg/100 ml, 7 showed a fourfold rise or high antibody titres against one of the TORCH (toxoplasma, rubella, cytomegalo virus and herpes simplex virus) agents. Screening of cord serum for IgM can be of particular value in detection of newborn infants with clinically apparent or inapparent intrauterine infections.