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IgG, IgA, and IgM in the Serum of Latin American (Chilean) Women in the Course of Normal Gestation
Author(s) -
Lizana Jorge,
Ludwig Hella
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
international journal of gynecology and obstetrics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.895
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1879-3479
pISSN - 0020-7292
DOI - 10.1002/j.1879-3479.1977.tb00637.x
Subject(s) - radial immunodiffusion , gestation , medicine , albumin , pregnancy , immunoglobulin m , antibody , placenta , gestational age , blood proteins , physiology , immunoglobulin a , immunoglobulin g , globulin , immunology , endocrinology , fetus , biology , genetics
This paper reports the results of tests for the 3 major immunoglobulins (G, A, and M) in a homogeneous, low socioeconomic group of 81 pregnant women of different gestational ages and 20 postpartum and 20 nonpregnant women from a developing Latin American country (Chile). The serum total proteins and albumin values are also included. The single radial immunodiffusion assay used was standardized with the WHO Reference Immunoglobulin Preparation. Total proteins and albumin decreased throughout pregnancy by 12.5% and 20.2%, respectively, in the third trimester. IgG decreased during gestation in the first trimester; the fall was 18.0% below the IgG of the reference group. IgA decreased in the first trimester, declined by 25.0% during the second trimester, and recovered to its normal values in the third trimester. There was no noteworthy change in IgM, but 19.7% of the cases showed elevated serum IgM concentrations. In the postpartum sera, the total proteins, albumin, IgG, and IgM levels slowly returned to normal values, but the IgA level was elevated. The mechanisms causing the variations observed are not clear; but dilutional effects, alteration of the regulation mechanisms, race, environmental conditions, and transport across the placenta should be considered in looking for an explanation.