Abstract
The concentration of the immunoglobin IgG was measured by radial immunodiffusion in paired umbilical cord and maternal sera in 30 unselected twin pregnancies. Total serum proteins, albumin, alpha-feto protein, transferrin, immunoglobins IgM IgA and IgE levels were also determined. In the majority of cases IgG concentration related more closely to that of the other twin than to birth weight and in some cases the IgG was greater in the twin of lower weight. As in singletons, mean IgG levels were higher in cord than maternal sera. The 3 cases of feto-fetal transfusion syndrome were exceptional in the large difference between IgG concentrations in recipient and donor twins, the IgG level in the donor being only 13%-51% of that in the recipient. The discrepancy was much greater than that found between the fetal produced proteins, which suggests that there may be a disturbance in materno-fetal placental transfer in this condition.
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bryan, E., Davies, P. Materno-fetal transfer of IgG in multiple pregnancy. Pediatr Res 8, 915 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197411000-00096
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197411000-00096