Health status and immune mediators in newborns with prenatal infections

Progression of prenatal infection in a newborn depends on the babys immune system. The aim of the study was (i) to examine the characteristics of fetuses during pregnancy and delivery and (ii) to determine the immune modulator levels in newborns with prenatal infections. The retrospective case-control study included 308 newborns: group I consisted of 177 babies born to mothers with infected gestational sac; group II consisted of 131 babies born to noninfected mothers. The past medical history, gestation course, and delivery in women with intrauterine infection were analyzed; clinical and immunological examinations of their new born babies were performed. Data showed that the level of proinflammatory and antiinflammatory mediators were significantly higher in babies born to mothers with infected gestational sac in comparison with the corresponding indicators in noninfected newborns.