[Changes in T-cell subpopulations in normal pregnancy and in patients with spontaneous abortion].
From the immunological point of view, pregnancy is a privileged allograft, with complex mechanisms of adaptation within the maternal immune system preventing rejection. The importance of lymphocytes and their specific subsets for this mechanism is a controversial issue. This study was designed to examine changes within T-cell subsets during uneventful pregnancy and to evaluate their significance by comparison with findings in patients undergoing spontaneous pregnancy loss. When compared to non-pregnant control subjects, normal pregnant women showed significantly decreased numbers for peripheral T-lymphocytes, for helper/inducer-T-cells and for the helper/suppressor-T-cell ratio (T4/T8). In contrast, patients undergoing spontaneous abortion showed a significantly elevated T4/T8-ratio, if compared to normal pregnant women. The clinical relevance of these findings is uncertain. Nevertheless, in individual cases of spontaneous miscarriage, the analysis of T-cell subsets might indicate a possible immunological aetiology.
Thaler
C J
CJ
Zentrum für Frauenheilkunde und Geburtshilfe, Johann-Wolfgang-Goethe-Universität, Frankfurt am Main.
Behnken
L J
LJ
Taubert
H D
HD
D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000276:immunology*; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000276:immunology*; D012016:Reference Values; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology
Veränderungen von T-Zell-Subpopulationen während der normalen Schwangerschaft und bei Patientinnen mit Spontanaborten.