Serum-Proteins in the Idiopathic Respiratory-Distress Syndrome of the Newborn

Immunoglobulins in umbilical cord plasma. 3. Haemolytic disease of newborn and respiratory distress syndrome.

“…These findings differ from results of Nejedla (1967) who found low yglobulin levels in haemolytic disease infants, Steinberg et al (1956) who found the infant IgG concentrations low relative to the maternal concentration, and Hardie et al (1965) who reported low concentrations in 3 affected infants. In these 3 series y-globulin was estimated by paper electrophoresis, so that the results are not strictly comparable with the present series where individual immunoglobulins were quantitated by single radial diffusion in agar.…”

“…The total amount of IgG absorbed on the red cells in haemolytic disease of the newborn at any one time is therefore very small compared to the total IgG complement of the adult or of the full-term healthy infant. Even allowing for rapid haemopoiesis in the affected infant, which may increase the utilization of antibody, and even though it is possible that anti-Rh antibody is preferentially transferred to the fetus, the amount of IgG utilized is unlikely to lower the fetal y-globulin concentration to the levels found by Hardie et al (1965) in 3 infants with haemolytic disease of the newborn.…”

“…Later, Hardie and Kench (1967) demonstrated reduced concentrations of y-globulin also in the serum of mothers whose infants developed RDS. Low levels of y-globulin were demonstrable in the mother's plasma throughout pregnancy from about the 16th-20th week of gestation, and rose to normal about 6 weeks after delivery.…”

“…In a study of the serum proteins in respiratory distress syndrome of the newborn (RDS), Hardie, Heese, and Kench (1965) found that the concentration of electrophoretically separated y-globulin was significantly reduced below the levels normally found in umbilical cord blood, and fell even further in the first few days of life. Later, Hardie and Kench (1967) demonstrated reduced concentrations of y-globulin also in the serum of mothers whose infants developed RDS.…”

Intracranial haemorrhage associated with hyaline membrane disease.

“…Hg, and base excess of-7 -1 mEq/l. y-globulins were reduced (Hardie, Heese, and Kench, 1965), with a mean value of 0-36 mg./100 ml.…”