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Journal of Tropical Pediatrics 1989 35(4):147-153; doi:10.1093/tropej/35.4.147
© 1989 by Oxford University Press
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Serum Immunoglobulin Levels and Incidence of Infection During the First Year of Life in Full-term and Preterm Infants

Marisa M. Mussi-Pinhata, MD and Arthur L. Gonçalves, MD

Department of Puericulture and Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirao Preto, University of São Paulo Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil

Correspondence: M. M. Mussi-Pinhata, Department of Puericulture and Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, USP, Av. Bandeirantes no. 3900, 14048 Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.

IgG, IgM, and IgA concentrations from birth to 12 months of age, and the incidence of acute infectious processes were determined in 25 full-term and in 26 preterm infants by the single radioimmunodiffusion technique in a prospective study. Infants born at term showed significantly higher IgG levels than preterm babies up to 2 months of age (P < 0.05) and the frequency of preterm babies with one or more acute infectious episodes during the same period of time was higher, mainly owing to pulmonary, oral mucosa, and ocular Infections. The frequency of children with six or seven infectious episodes was also higher in the preterm group (P < 0.05). IgM and IgA levels did not differ between groups. Even though preterm infants did not show serious bacterial disease or inability to produce antibodies, the incidence of infectious processes was higher in this group up to 2 months of age, a period during which serum IgG levels were lower than in the group of children born at term.


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