Iraqi Postgraduate Medical Journal

Abstract

ABSTRACT:
BACKROUND:
The level of IgG increases during pregnancy reaching a maximal level at term and was clamed to have a role in the immunological initiation of labor at term, some times the presence of infection during pregnancy might increases the level of such antibody as part of the maternal humeral immune response toward invading pathogens, among which U.T.I and chest infection.
OBJETIVE:
The evaluation of the role of placenta- bound IgG as a part of immune response against the infectious agents causing UTI and or chest infection during the second half of pregnancy.
METHODS:
Fifty one women were included in this study delivered normally at Baghdad teaching hospital,17 women had UTI and 18 where complaining of chest infection at time of sample collection compared with 17 women delivered normally and apparently healthy as a control group ,the level of IgG was detected by direct immunoflorescent test (IF).
RESULTS:
The study showed a significant higher level of IgG in the placental biopsy of women with UTI, and chest infection than those of the control group.
CONCLUSION:
The level of placenta –bound IgG is higher in women having infectious disease during pregnancy than those with normal uncomplicated gestation, which could be considered as a reflection for the level of passive immunity donated to the baby during his first six months of life.