2021 Volume 70 Issue 3 Pages 525-528
The levels of serum immunoglobulins vary depending on age, particularly in children. Therefore, an age-related reference range of individuals must be used when evaluating a patient’s immunoglobulin levels. We determined reference ranges for serum immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA, and IgM) in the early neonatal period (0–6 days after birth). Data were from patients in the early neonatal period admitted to our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Growing Care Unit. Our subjects were divided into three groups on the basis of gestational age (GA): 21–27 weeks, 28–36 weeks, and 37–42 weeks. There was a significant difference in the serum IgG level among the three groups. Thus, for IgG, considering the effect of GA is useful for estimating the reference range for infants in the early neonatal period. On the other hand, there was no correlation among the three groups in terms of serum IgA and IgM levels; thus, it was not necessary to consider the effect of GA in these groups.
