title: [Serum immunoglobulin behaviour in the immature infant from birth to 2 years].
abstract: A brief account of immunity (fundamental stages of the process, part played by the dependent and independent thymus system, importance of the lymphocyte, theories concerning the interpretation of the antibody response) and of the immunoglobulins (the G-A-M-D-E classification and the features and functions of each class), together with a note relating to mother-foetus transmission of immunity) and the autochthonous origin of Ig, are followed by the presentation of data obtained in 28 female and 27 male immature infants (divided into 3 groups on a body weight basis) studied from birth to 2 yr. The results were as follows: IgG behaviour as in the mature child, but low with respect to the adult in proportion to the degree of immaturity. Transient increase (between 10th and 30th day) followed by regular catabolism (min. 4th-6th month). Slow recovery to 50 % and little over 60 % adult values at 1 and 2 yr; IgA - absent at birth, appearing at about 20th day. Rapid increase to 3 months, slight fall to 5th month, with slow recovery to slightly less than 3rd month values (= 31-45% adult) at 1 yr and slightly over the same at 2 yr: this pattern differs from the literature data; IgM--always present at birth, rapid increase in proportion to immaturity during first few days. Decrease from 20th day to 3rd-6th month (only twice reported in the literature) followed by slow recovery to 60% adult values at 1 yr. The overall picture is of precocious antibody (IgM) response broken by a transient fall between the 3rd and 5th due to catabolism of maternal IgG coupled with inadequate autochthonous production of IgG and temporary decrease in autochthonous IgA and IgM values. These findings suggest, inter alia, that the vaccination calendar be shifted to the 6th month to ensure adequate response.
authors.affiliation: Ospedale Civile S. Croce di Cuneo, Divisione Pediatrica.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Spada
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vacca
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zunin
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood*; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M