Lysozyme activity in parturient women and their newborns in cases of infection

Using the method of Smolelis and Harstell, modified by Kopeć, lysozyme activity was assayed in parturient women in venous blood and fetal waters, and in healthy and infected newborns born in term or prematurely, in cord blood on the third and seventh days of life, and in cases of acquired infection on the third, seventh and 10th days of life. The assays showed statistically significant higher levels of lysozyme activity in cord blood and in later days of life in comparison with lysozyme activity in maternal venous blood and in fetal waters.