AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PERINATOLOGY, cilt.12, sa.6, ss.413-415, 1995 (SCI-Expanded)
There are only a few reports about immunologic evaluation of neonates who have been exposed to immunosuppressive drugs during fetal life. We followed up immuno-globulins, T, B and natural killer (NK) cell levels in an infant of a kidney transplant recipient who has been exposed to cyclosporine, azathioprine, and prednisolone during his fetal life. B-cell percentage, absolute counts, and immunoglobulin levels were normal at birth, but IgG value was lower than our normal controls at 3 months and low normal at 6 months of age. Serum IgM levels were normal in all determinations, but IgA levels were lower than the control values during the follow-up period. B cell percentage and absolute counts were higher than the control values at 3 and 6 months. T-cell subpopulations were normal except for CD4(+)/CD8(+) ratios that stayed high normal due to increased CD4(+) cells. CD16(+) (NK cells) absolute counts and percentages were below normal at birth and at 3 months. Clinically, increased susceptibility to infection was not observed during the follow-up period. More immunologic studies are needed on possible effects of in utero exposure to cyclosporine, azathioprine, and prednisolone.