Plasma immunoglobulin levels in Nigerian infants in the first year of life

Abstract

Serial estimations of plasma immunoglobulins IgG, IgM and IgA were undertaken in the first year of life of healthy Nigerian infants by the single radial immunodiffusion method. High levels of IgG present at birth dropped below half their values in the first month of life and remained low for about four months after which a sustained rise was observed although birth levels were not attained at 1 year of age. IgM was low at birth and IgA was absent but was detached at one month. Both IgM and IgA rose rapidly in the first four months of life which is in keeping with immunological competence and primary antibody response to various subclinical infections in infancy