title: Reference values of serum IgG and IgM levels in preterm and term newborns.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although, variations of normal immunoglobulin (Ig) levels in different gestational age and birth weight groups have been studied so far, data are still limited in newborns, especially in preterm infants. The aim of this study was to determine serum IgG and IgM levels in newborns in order to generate a reference standard for neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and address the variations in preterm babies.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was conducted from June 2012 to June 2013 in a level III NICU. A total of 300 newborn infants hospitalized within first 72 h were included in the study. The quantification of serum IgG and IgM was performed by nephelometric method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both serum IgG and IgM levels were increased in correlation with increased gestational age and birth weight.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The reference values of serum IgG and IgM levels should be further evaluated in larger series with the presented data in this article. In addition, preterm babies appear to have lower Ig levels thus carry the risk of relevant morbidity.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Neonatology .
authors.forename: Senem
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alkan Ozdemir
authors.affiliation: a Department of Neonatology .
authors.forename: Esra Arun
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Ozer
authors.affiliation: b Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology and Immunology , and.
authors.forename: Sukran
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kose
authors.affiliation: a Department of Neonatology .
authors.forename: Ozkan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ilhan
authors.affiliation: c Department of Pediatric Immunology , Tepecik Training and Research Hospital , Izmir , Turkey.
authors.forename: Can
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ozturk
authors.affiliation: a Department of Neonatology .
authors.forename: Sumer
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sutcuoglu
mesh_terms: D001724:Birth Weight; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood*; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000097:blood*; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M
keywords: IgG; IgM; immunoglobulin; newborn; preterm