Deficiency of IgG Subclasses in Mothers of Infants with Group B Streptococcal Septicemia

Abstract
Serum IgG subclasses were studied in 19 mothers of infants with serious infections caused by group B streptococci (GBS) and compared with a control group of 20 mothers of healthy infants. 13 of 19 mothers showed decreased subclass levels: 10 of 19 low IgG2, 9 of 19 low IgG1 and 4 of 19 low IgG3. The levels of IgG1, IgG2 and IgG3 were significantly lower among mothers of GBS-infected infants than among the controls. Thus, there is indirect evidence that the infants were immunodeficient at birth.