title: Serum immunoglobulin levels in the course of normal gestation in Nigerian women.
abstract: The three major immunoglobulin (IgG, IgA and IgM) concentrations were measured in 118 Nigerian women during normal pregnancy. IgG was found to decline progressively throughout gestation with a very highly significant decrease between the first and second trimester (0.01 greater than P greater than 0.005) and between the second and third trimesters (P = 0.01). The mean concentrations of IgM were significantly lower in sera from first-trimester pregnant women than those of age-matched non-pregnant control subjects (P less than 0.001), and there was a further significant decrease between second and third trimester groups (0.005 greater than P greater than 0.001). No statistical difference was observed for IgA levels throughout normal pregnancy. The significance of these results is discussed in relation to other observations elsewhere.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Benin, Nigeria.
authors.forename: A O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Ogbimi
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Omu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D005779:Immunodiffusion; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000032:analysis; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000032:analysis*; D009549:Nigeria; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000276:immunology*; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D013223:Statistics as Topic
chemical_list: D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D007136:Immunoglobulins