Immune conditions of the human newborn. I. Non-specific immunity. Humoral specific immunity

Abstract

Authors review present knowledge on the function of the specific and non-specific branches of the immune system in human newborn. In this first part they study the nonspecific immunity and the humoral components of the specific immune system. They are quantitative or qualitatively deficients at this age and these deficiencies must be accounted for the increased incidence of  infections in the first weeks of life.