Elevated immunoglobulin M levels in low birth-weight neonates with chronic respiratory insufficiency.

Ten babies weighing less than 1500 g at birth subsequently developed chronic respiratory insufficiency and bubbly appearance on chest X-ray during their infancy. The clinical diagnoses were compatible with Wilson-Mikity syndrome. They were compared with very low birth-weight infants who did not show these signs and symptoms. On the first day (mean) of life significantly high serum immunoglobulin M levels were found in the study group. The possibility exists that the chronic respiratory insufficiency seen in these very low birth-weight infants may have been caused by intrauterine infection.