Serum and human milk IgA and zinc concentration after successful renal transplantation

Although breast-feeding in renal transplant patients has been discouraged because of the potential risk to the infant from the immunosuppressive drugs, two of our patients chose to breast-feed their infants for 3-4 months period. Serum and human milk IgA and zinc concentration were measured by the immunodiffusion and atomic absorption spectrophotometry method, respectively. Human milk IgA and zinc levels were at the lower normal limits one week posttransplant and were found to be slightly decreased after three months of lactation. Although serum IgA and zinc levels were not measured to breast-feed infants they were both found to have normal blood counts, no increase in infections and above average growth rate.