Paper I
2025 March (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) · 40 marks · 120 min

Question

Clinical significance of IgM

Q62 marksShort Notes

Answer

Clinical significance of IgM:

  • Marker of recent/current infection — IgM is the first antibody produced in a primary immune response, appearing early (within days) and declining as IgG rises; its presence in serum therefore indicates recent or ongoing infection, making IgM serology valuable for diagnosing acute infections (e.g., IgM-based rapid tests for dengue, hepatitis A, leptospirosis).
  • Diagnosis of congenital infection — since IgM (a large pentamer) does not cross the placenta, its presence in a neonate’s serum indicates the neonate’s own immune response to an intrauterine (congenital) infection, forming the basis of TORCH panel interpretation (toxoplasmosis, other agents, rubella, CMV, herpes).
  • Isohaemagglutinins — the natural anti-A and anti-B antibodies of the ABO blood group system are IgM, relevant to blood transfusion compatibility testing.
  • Most efficient complement activator — due to its multivalency, making it important in early antibacterial defence and in mediating certain transfusion reactions and autoimmune haemolytic processes (cold agglutinin disease is IgM-mediated).
  • Waldenström’s macroglobulinaemia — a lymphoproliferative disorder characterized by monoclonal IgM overproduction, causing hyperviscosity syndrome.

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