Elevated viral antibody titres in spontaneous abortion.
To assess the possible role of virus infections in spontaneous abortion we undertook a prospective study of three groups of patients: women who had a spontaneous abortion; women seen in the antenatal booking clinic; and those undergoing therapeutic termination of pregnancy. Venous blood was taken for antibody detection, cervical swabs for virus isolation, and in the cases of spontaneous and therapeutic abortion products of conception were sent for virus culture. The infectious agents studied were influenza A and B, adenovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, measles, psittacosis, Varicella zoster, and mumps virus. Statistical analysis revealed that women in the spontaneous abortion group has a higher incidence of antibodies against respiratory syncytial virus (P less than 0.01), and mumps virus (P less than 0.01). Among women seropositive for each virus, higher titres were found only for respiratory syncytial virus (P less than 0.05) in cases rather than controls. These results could be explained if viruses such as respiratory syncytial virus caused abortion or if women having a spontaneous abortion mount exaggerated immune responses to fetal and viral infections, and the former altered immune response is associated with spontaneous abortion.
Irvine
L M
LM
Academic Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Royal Free Hospital Medical School, London, U.K.
Tavorath
R
R
Lindsay
P
P
O'Brien
P M
PM
Griffiths
P
P
D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000276:immunology*; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012136:Respiratory Syncytial Viruses / Q000276:immunology*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral