title: HLA-DR and DQ antigens and anticardiolipin antibodies in women with recurrent spontaneous abortions.
abstract: IgG anticardiolipin antibodies (ACL) have been shown to occur in a high proportion of women with repeated unexplained miscarriages. Forty-nine women with unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortions (RSA), previously assayed for the presence of ACL by an enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay, were typed for HLA-DR and DQ antigens by the classical microlymphocytotoxicity test. Twenty-five women were positive for ACL and 24 were negative. HLA-DR7 was found in 24.5% of 49 habitually aborting women vs. 28% of healthy controls; but the DR7 frequency was 40% in ACL positive patients vs. 8.3% in ACL negative patients (P = 0.011). These results show that in the Italian population an association between HLA-DR7 antigen and ACL is present in women with unexplained RSA, suggesting that HLA-DR genes might control the susceptibility to specific autoantibody production.
authors.affiliation: Cattedra di Genetica Medica, Universitá La Sapienza, Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Trabace
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nicotra
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cappellacci
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morellini
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Muttinelli
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sbracia
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Di Prima
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Masala
mesh_terms: D000026:Abortion, Habitual / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D017153:Antibodies, Anticardiolipin / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D016736:Antiphospholipid Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D004198:Disease Susceptibility / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005802:Genes, MHC Class II; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D015809:HLA-DR7 Antigen / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D017153:Antibodies, Anticardiolipin; D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D015809:HLA-DR7 Antigen; D007074:Immunoglobulin G