[The spontaneous lymphocyte transformation rate in newborn infants at risk]

The lymphocyte transformation test was performed in 32 risk newborns and 32 comparative persons (17 adults, 15 children). In the void controls without antigen addition the newborns had a significantly higher spontaneous blastic reaction than the control group. The phenomenon may be explained by lymphatic stem cells in the blood or an ontogenetically higher content of "embryonic tissue" respectively being present as unspecific stimulant or an immunological defence reaction against maternal immunoglobulins transmitted diaplacentally (formation of antigammaglobulin factors) or against maternal lymphocytes to prevent a "runt disease".