Serum Immunoglobulins in the First Year of Life

Abstract

Serum IgG, IgM, and IgA were measured in 316 infants younger than 12 months of age. Information including the child's race, sex, age, and past history of infections or atopy was collected. Birth records were also reviewed to ascertain the child's birthweight and gestational age. Serum IgG levels were higher in black infants than in white infants after the age of 4 months. Serum IgM levels were higher in black females than in black males for infants older than 1 month. For infants younger than 4 months of age, those weighing less than 2500 g at birth had lower IgG levels than those weighing more than 2500 g. Infants younger than 1 month whose gestational age had been less than 36 weeks had lower IgG levels than those greater than 36 weeks. Infants aged 1 to 4 months whose gestational age had been less than 36 weeks had lower IgG levels than did those 40 or more weeks. Infants with a positive history for atopy had lower IgG levels than similarly aged infants with a negative history.

Evidence of Impact of Maternal HIV Infection on Immunoglobulin Levels in HIV-Exposed Uninfected Children

“…19 The study showed results similar to the previously reported associations between immunoglobulin levels and prematurity, gender, race, and maternal injecting drug use. [20][21][22][23] In the first 6 months of life the higher levels of IgG in uninfected children born to HIV-infected women can be explained by the higher maternal antibody titers in HIV-infected mothers compared to HCV-infected mothers. 24,25 However, the higher IgG levels in HIV-uninfected children persisted up to at least 24 months of age, when no maternal IgG remains.…”

Reference distributions for immunoglobulins A, G, and M: A comparison of a large cohort to the world's literature

“…Less than a third of these papers stratified their results by gender. Only nine (15,60,61,68,72,76,83,107,111) were included in the IgM analysis (Fig. 1C).…”

“…1C). In a separate analysis of reference range width (Figures 2A, 2B, 2C), 14 studies were available for comparison (15,17,46,56,60,68,76,83,85,90,91,94,107,111).…”

“…Ten reported measurements in Caucasian or mostly Caucasian populations (17,46,51,56,60,65,83,85,91,106). Five reported results from both Caucasian and other racial groups separately (11,68,70,72,116). Two studied only Asians (90,103), and two studied only black Africans (107,117) The remaining four did not provide the racial composition of study subjects (15,71,73,76).…”

“…Two studied only Asians (90,103), and two studied only black Africans (107,117) The remaining four did not provide the racial composition of study subjects (15,71,73,76). Five within-study comparisons of immunoglobulin measurements in healthy Caucasian and Black individuals were made (11,68,70,72,116). The findings were not entirely consistent, but on average, the Black individuals tended to have slightly higher values.…”