FETAL IMMUNE-RESPONSE FOLLOWING CONGENITAL TOXOPLASMOSIS

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 50  (2) , 200-204
Abstract
Serum concentrations of Ig[immunoglobulin]A, its subgroups IgA1 and IgA2, IgM, IgG and IgD were determined in a group of 14 mothers who contracted toxoplasmosis during pregnancy and their 14 offspring. Four newborns developed toxoplasmosis, while 10 did not. The 4 infants with congenital toxoplasmosis had evidence of increased immunoglobulin synthesis in utero in sharp contrast to the 10 offspring of toxoplasmosis-infected mothers who failed to develop the disease. Three of these 4 affected children had elevated IgM levels; all 4 had significantly increased IgA values. Use of IgA subclass IgA1 and IgA2 was not helpful in distinguishing infants with congenital toxoplasmosis from unaffected infants. The fetal immune response to intrauterine infection may include IgA and IgM.

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