Abstract
A longitudinal study was carried out from birth on 149 IUGR Kenyan infants and 111 controls to see if intrauterine malnutrition adversely affects CMI. Three birth weight (BW) groups were studied: 76 infants < 2500 gms; 73 infants between 2500-2800 gms; 111 control infants > 2800 gms. T-cell function was assessed by rosette forming cells (RFC) with sheep erythrocytes (mean ± SD). Simultaneous nutritional studies were obtained. Studies were done on cord blood, at 6 to 7 mos. and at 12 mos. of age with 58% of the original group available at 6 to 7 mos. and 48% of the original group available at 12 mos. for follow-up. At birth the %RFC was 51.8 ± 12.6% in infants < 2500 gm; 53.0 ± 12.2% in the 2500-2800 gm infants; and 60.2 ± 11.9% in the controls. Both IUGR groups were significantly lower than controls, p < .05. At 6 to 7 mos. partial recovery took place with the < 2500 gm BW infants with %RFC of 56.6 ± 7.0%; 2500-2800 gm BW infants 57.8 ± 7.2% and control infants 58.6 ± 7.3%. At 12 mos. %RFC in the < 2500 gm BW infants was 55.6 ± 8.3%; in the 2500-2800 gm BW infants 57.8 ± 9.7% and in the controls 60.1 ± 6.0%. The < 2500 gm BW infant group was still significantly lower (p < .05) than the control group. Thus, there is a significant depression of CMI in IUGR infants < 2500 gm and between 2500-2800 gm at birth with partial recovery but still showing significant differences from normal in the < 2500 gm BW group by 12 mos. of age.
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Neumann, C., Zahradnick, J., Newton, C. et al. 722 LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF CELL-MEDIATED IMMUNITY (CMI) IN INTRAUTERINE GROWTH RETARDED (IUGR) INFANTS. Pediatr Res 12 (Suppl 4), 484 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197804001-00727
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197804001-00727