Immunologic variables in normal pregnancy and spontaneous abortion

Int J Fertil Womens Med. 1998 Sep-Oct;43(5):262-6.

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the study was to establish if pregnancy belongs to pathological situations, if it changes SIL-2R, sCD4 and sCD8 levels, and to verify if these levels have a prognostic value in the evaluation of pregnancy.

Patients and methods: Thirty pregnant women in the first trimester of pregnancy were studied. Ten of them had a normal evolution of pregnancy, ten had a threatened abortion with a bad outcome, and ten had an ectopic pregnancy. We determined SIL-2R, sCD4, and sCD8 levels in the serum and in the amniotic fluid in 10 pregnant women in their second trimester, and in 10 healthy women without pregnancy (control group).

Results: We found that (a) 50% of the pregnant women in their first trimester had abnormal SIL-2R values, and 90% had abnormal sCD8 values; (b) 9/10 women with threatened abortion and bad outcome had abnormal SIL-2R values; (c) SIL-2R levels were significantly higher in the amniotic fluid than in the serum (P <.001).

Conclusion: Our results sustain the opinion that pregnancy must be included among those situations that increase SIL-2R, sCD4, and sCD8 levels. SIL-2R levels greater than 1,300 U/mL carried a bad prognosis in the evolution of pregnancy.

MeSH terms

  • Abortion, Spontaneous / immunology*
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • CD4 Antigens / blood
  • CD4 Antigens / metabolism
  • CD8 Antigens / blood
  • CD8 Antigens / metabolism
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Outcome
  • Pregnancy Trimester, First / immunology*
  • Pregnancy Trimester, Second / immunology*
  • Pregnancy, Ectopic / immunology*
  • Receptors, Interleukin-2 / blood
  • Receptors, Interleukin-2 / metabolism

Substances

  • CD4 Antigens
  • CD8 Antigens
  • Receptors, Interleukin-2