Immunoglobulin Profile and Lymphocyte Subsets in Preterm Neonates

OBJECTIVE: We documented the immunological profile of neonates and mothers, and lymphocyte subsets at birth. METHODS: Consecutively born preterm neonates (26 to 31 weeks gestation) at our level III neonatal unit, fulfilling the inclusion criteria were enrolled. Immunoglobulin levels were assessed in maternal blood and in cord blood along with T cell subsets. RESULTS: A total of 115 neonates were enrolled. The mean cord levels for IgG, IgM and IgA, respectively were 5.34, 0.10 and 0.04 g/L and of B, T, NK and NK-T cells were 14%, 71%, 10% and 1%, respectively of total lymphocyte population. Cord IgG and IgA levels showed a significantly rising trend with increasing gestation (P=0.005 and 0.02, respectively) but not IgM and T cell subsets. Maternal immunoglobulins were similar in all gestations. CONCLUSION: The cord IgG and IgA increased with increasing gestation but not IgM in neonates. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at 10.1007/s13312-022-2470-0.