Immunoglobulins in newborns: Differential study of premature and full term infants

Present study deals with the immunoglobulin levels of the preterm and normal infants born of normal and infected mothers. Mean IgG in the full term infants (born of normal mothers) Was found to be 75% of the adult level. However mean IgG level was slightly higher in "small for date" babies than the preterm, but lower than the full term. IgM levels were comparable in all the three categories, whereas detectable IgA was found only in full term infants. A variable pattern was observed in the infants of all the three groups, born of infected mothers. There appeared to be a correlation of increased IgG with higher birth weight while lower birth weight infants had increased IgM