A 23-year-old pregnant female visits her physician for her final prenatal checkup. The physician determines that the fetus has developed an infection in utero. Which of the following would be increased in the fetus at birth?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

IgM is the first antibody produced in response to an infection and can cross the placenta to provide passive immunity to the fetus. Therefore, if a fetus has an infection in utero, it is likely that IgM levels will be increased at birth. IgG also crosses the placenta and provides passive immunity, but it is produced later in the immune response and therefore would not be increased in the fetus at birth if there was an in utero infection. IgA and IgD do not typically cross the placenta and therefore would not be increased in the fetus at birth in response to an in utero infection.

A 23-Year-Old Pregnant Female Visits Her Physician for Her Final