Alloimmune and Autoimmune Background in Recurrent Pregnancy Loss - Successful Immunotherapy by Intravenous Immunoglobulin

• Published in: American journal of reproductive immunology (1989) Vol. 55; no. 5; pp. 331 - 340
• Main Authors: Kotlan, Beatrix, Padanyi, Agnes, Batorfi, Jozsef, Fulop, Vilmos, Szigetvari, Ivan, Rajczy, Katalin, Penzes, Maria, Gyodi, Eva, Reti, Marienne, Petranyi, Gyozo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-05-2006
• Subjects: Abortion, Habitual - immunology; Abortion, Habitual - therapy; Adult; Autoantibodies; Autoimmunity; Case-Control Studies; Cytotoxic T lymphocyte; Female; Humans; Immunity, Cellular; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous - therapeutic use; immunological assay; Isoantibodies; Killer Cells, Natural - immunology; Pregnancy; spontaneous abortion; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic - immunology
• ISSN: 1046-7408; 1600-0897
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0897.2006.00368.x

Problem
Immunotherapies [leukocyte immunization, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG)] introduced to treat women with recurrent spontaneous abortions (RSA) have still controversial results in most clinical trials. A selection of these patients would be advantageous for higher efficacy.
Method of study
A complex immunological panel assay was offered to patients with reproductive failure without any other known cause. We focused here on the cellular immunological parameters.
Results
High cytotoxic T lymphocyte precursor frequency and cell‐mediated cytotoxic activity and a rather high natural killer cell activity were found in alloimmune RSA patients. Thirty‐two patients were investigated by immunological assays and in 78% of the women an alloimmune background could be defined. The efficacy of IVIG treatment was 96% in this group.
Conclusions
The novel cellular immunological assays proved to be favourable for the indication of RSA patients and showed the usefulness of this selection process for effective immunotherapy.