SERUM LEVELS OF IMMUNOGLOBULINS IN MEXICAN PRESCHOOL CHILDREN

Golubjatnikov, R. (Univ. of Wisconsin Medical Center, State Lab. Hygiene, 437 Henry Mall, Madison, Wisconsin 53706) and M. Steadman. Serum levels of immunoglobulins in Mexican preschool children. Am J Epidemiol 95: 542–548, 1972.—This report represents age-specific levels of serum IgG, IgM and IgA of 189 randomly selected, preschool Mexicans living at home. Single radial diffusion tests showed a reduction of these immunoglobulins in 2-year-old children from the initial peak levels seen in younger cohorts. With the exception of IgA (p = 0.1), this decline was highly significant (p < 0.01). However, increased concentrations of IgG and IgA were seen in the older age groups. IgM levels ranged from 104–138% of the mean adult value, while IgA concentrations were only 31–59% of the adult level. Although lower in younger cohorts, IgG levels did not differ significantly from mean adult concentrations in the 4- and 5-year-old children. Mean IgG and IgM levels of the 5-year-old Mexicans exceeded those of a similar group studied in rural Wisconsin, but IgA levels were lower in Mexicans than in comparable Wisconsin children. No differences hi IgG, IgM and IgA concentrations could be attributed to sex or to the number of sibs.