PURPOSE: To compare the immunoglobulins concentration in umbilical cord blood and in venous maternal blood at delivery. METHODS: imunoglobulin's concentration was determined by Behringer turbitime System from serum samples of 323 umbilical cords and 321 peripheral maternal veins. The results were statistically analysed, correlation coeficient r was calculated; statistical significance established at p= or<0,05, with regression curves limit of 95%. RESULTS: IgG concentracion progressively increased with gestational age (r- 0,31;p=0,0001) and with increasing birth weight (0,14;p=0,08). The relation with birth weight, although significant was not so expressive as with gestational age probably depending of inclusion of preterm and intrauterine groowth restraint infants in the data. IgG concentracion was higher in cord blood than in mother's serum (r=0,02;p=0,0001). IgM concentracion lowers as mother's age increases. Mother's IgM and IgA were higher if comparad to IgG of cord blood; IgG of cord blood lowes as time of rupture of membranes increeases (r=-0,13;p=0,018). CONCLUSIONS: IgG concentracion increases with increasing gestational age and lowers as the time of rupture of membranes increases. IgM and IgA of maternal blood are higher when compared to IgG of umbilical cord. IgM lowers when maternal age increases.
Immunoglobulins; Umbilical cord blood; Delivery; Newborn
