Role of T and B lymphocytes in the intrauterine infection of newborns.

The material studied comprised 90 full-term and premature infants with the symptoms of the intrauterine infection, 90 full-term and premature healthy infants (control group) and 120 mothers. T and B lymphocytes were identified by the rosette method (E and EAC rosettes) and the cytoenzymatic method determining the activity of the nonspecific acid esterase (esterase-positive T lymphocytes and esterase-negative B lymphocytes). The results obtained revealed that the intrauterine and post-natally acquired bacterial infections induced immunological response in the fetuses and in the newborns. This was evidenced particularly by the increased level of IgA and IgM and by the increased percentage of lymphocytes B in the blood of infected infants. Moreover, the criteria of early diagnosis of the bacterial infection were determined.