Raised acute-phase glycoprotein and IgM levels in cord serum

The usefulness of a combined screening for acute-phase glycoproteins and IgM level in cord sera to denote various intrauterine or delivery-associated disorders was tested in approximately 2,000 consecutive cord sera. Increased glycoprotein level, measured by sensitive and technically simple concanavalin A binding nephelometry, showed a significant association with birth injuries and abnormalities of amniotic fluid, whereas raised IgM levels were linked to maternal genitourinary infections and to cesarean sections performed because of fetal distress. The correlation between these putative risk indices was poor (r = 0.38). Both indices were connected with severe neonatal disease and/or poor outcome of the child, but since such conditions were also otherwise evident at birth, routine screening by these tests was considered unwarranted.