Immune-inflammatory response in the human neonate

This review briefly summarizes the salient points regarding the immune inflammatory status of neonatal host defenses. The neonate can marshal an immune response to most antigens and infectious agents. The data from previous studies in this area suggested that neonates were "immunologically null,' but much of this information was derived from interpretations which failed to take into account the inflammatory response. Humoral and cellular deficiencies of cell movement and, perhaps, ingestion and bactericidal activities probably contribute significantly to the compromised host defense characteristic of this period of life. The interactions of these major areas in enabling the neonate to resist infections are largely unknown. The answers to these compelling research questions should provide directions in the future diagnosis and treatment of neonatal septicemia.