LEVELS OF IMMUNOGLOBULINS AND ISOAGGLUTININS IN NEWBORN BABIES OF DIABETIC MOTHERS IN FIRST DAYS OF LIFE

The presence of isoagglutinins and the concentration of immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA, IgM) were determined during the first postnatal days in 58 newborn infants from diabetic mothers. The results were as follows: 1. 27.6% of the children had already a detectable level of isoagglutinins which probably were of maternal origin. 2. 5.8% of the children showed a significant increase of IgM or IgA: this finding may indicate a pre-natal infection. 3. Children with high levels of IgM or IgA had a lower chance of survival; the mortality rate was as high as 40%. Children with detecable levels of isoagglutinins had the highest chance of survival within the group under investigation. © 1969 Springer-Verlag.