Immunoglobulin and anti-Escherichia coli antibody in lower respiratory tract secretions from infants weighing less than 1500 g at birth

• Published in: Archives of disease in childhood Vol. 65; no. 1 Spec No; pp. 48 - 53
• Main Authors: Sennhauser, F H, Balloch, A, Shelton, M J, Doyle, L W, Yu, V Y, Roberton, D M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health 01.01.1990; BMJ Publishing Group Ltd; BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subjects: Age; Antibodies; Antibodies, Bacterial - analysis; Birth; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid - immunology; E coli; Escherichia coli; Escherichia coli - immunology; Female; Gestational age; Growth; Humans; Immunoglobulin A; Immunoglobulin A - analysis; Immunoglobulin G; Immunoglobulin G - analysis; Immunoglobulin Isotypes - analysis; Immunoglobulin M; Immunoglobulin M - analysis; Immunoglobulins; Infant, Low Birth Weight - immunology; Infant, Newborn; Infants (Premature); Infection; Male; Measurement; Neonates; Pediatrics; Premature infants; Prospective Studies; Respiratory organs; Respiratory system; Respiratory tract; Secretory component; Secretory Component - analysis
• ISSN: 0003-9888; 1468-2044
• DOI: 10.1136/adc.65.1_Spec_No.48

Concentrations of immunoglobulins and anti-Escherichia coli antibody were studied longitudinally in tracheobronchial aspirates from 33 premature intubated neonates, median gestational age 27 weeks. Aspirates collected at birth contained IgG, IgA, and IgM in 100%, 93%, and 79% of samples, respectively. The median IgA concentration at birth was 0.7 micrograms/mg total protein and increased to 5.8 micrograms/mg protein by the sixth week. IgG and IgM antibodies to E coli were present in 90% and 30%, respectively, of tracheobronchial aspirates collected at birth. Samples from three of 28 neonates (11%) contained IgA anti-E coli antibody at birth, and the proportion with IgA antibody rose to 50% during the sixth week. Secretory component associated IgA and IgM were detectable in samples tested at birth and at 4 weeks of age, and secretory component associated anti-E coli antibody was present in aspirates from three of nine neonates studied at 4 weeks of age, but had not been detectable at birth.