CHANGES OF SERUM IMMUNOGLOBULINS IGG, IGA, IGM, AND IGE DURING PREGNANCY

  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 52  (4) , 415-420
Abstract
The serum levels of immunoglobulins [Ig] at various times throughout pregnancy were measured in 11 healthy women. The concentrations of IgG, IgA and IgM decreased significantly in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters, the mean decreases at the 2nd trimester being 18, 13 and 9%, respectively. When the decreases were expressed on the basis of serum total protein, the decreases in IgG and IgA were significant but the decrease in IgM was not. The level of IgE decreased or increased during pregnancy. Maternal age, emesis, ABO-incompatibility and the sex and weight of the baby at birth were not related to the initial concentration or to the extent of decrease of Ig during pregnancy. In a case of Rh incompatibility, increase of Ig was observed concomitantly with the transient appearance of anti-Rh(D) antibody. Ig depletion in prenancy seems to result from immune suppression and hemodilution.