Acute phase proteins pattern in serum of healthy term and preterm infants at the early developmental stage to age six months

We have attempted to define the evolutionary pattern of some acute phase pr oteins in early infancy. We measured nephelometrically serum concentrations of albumin, prealbumin, transferrin, ceruloplasmin, alpha(2)-macroglobulin , alpha(1)-antitrypsin, haptoglobulin and alpha(1)-acid glycoprotein in 181 term and preterm infants (gestational ages 6-41 weeks). Measurements were performed within 24 h after birth and then 1, 3 and 6 months afterwards. Da ta obtained from 92 healthy adults were used as adult reference values. Lev els of all proteins increased progressively with postnatal age, except for alpha(1)-antitrypsin, which remained relatively stable from birth to age 6 months. Concentrations of all of the other measured proteins were significa ntly lower in preterm than the term infants. Compared with adult values, al pha(2)-macroglobulin level progressively increased in infants from 1 month after birth to the six month. The other proteins level were significantly l ower at birth than adult values. Thus both gestational and postnatal age sh ould be considered when interpreting concentrations of these proteins in ea rly infancy. Med Sci Res 27:335-336 (C) 1999 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.