IMMUNOLOGIC AND BIOCHEMICAL STUDIES IN INFANTS AND CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO RHEUMATIC FEVER

Abstract

Electrophoretic analyses of blood plasma or serum of 30 children in apparent health between the ages of two and 11 years revealed that the relative concentration of the various components was in close agreement with adult values, although the individual variation was several times greater. For 27 children in apparent health, but who had experienced various types of infection during a one to four month interval prior to the time the specimen was taken, elevation of the gamma component occurred in about 40% of the determinations. Illness within the month produced the greatest number of abnormalities, although abnormalities were noted in specimens of children who had been free of infection two to three months. A few abnormalities were noted in all components except beta globulin. At younger ages (two to four years) children showed a slightly higher albumen level and a slightly lower gamma globulin level. Normal children susceptible to rheumatic fever on a genetic basis exhibited no specific differences in the electrophoretic pattern.