[Immunoglobulins and other plasme proteins in late pregnancy (author's transl)]

Serum levels of immunoglobulins, alpha-2-macroglobulin and complement component C3 were measured from 490 pregnant women shortly before date and compared with the serum concentration of the same proteins in a group of female blood donors. Concentration of immunoglobulin G was found to be significantly (2 p less than 0.001) reduced during late pregnancy, while the serum level of immunoglobulin M in the group of pregnant women was significantly (2 p less than 0.01) increased. No difference between the serum concentration of immunoglobulin A could be observed between both groups. A significant increase (2 p less than 0.01) could also be observed regarding the serum levels of the complement component C3 and of alpha-2-Macroglobulin in the group of pregnant women. The findings are discussed with respect to the alterations during late pregnancy.