Antinuclear antibodies during pregnancy.
First, second, and third trimester serum samples from 100 healthy pregnant women, umbilical cord serum samples from each delivery, and, for comparison, sera from 76 nonpregnant control subjects were assayed by indirect immunofluorescence for the presence of antibody to human epithelioid cell nuclei at titers of greater than or equal to 1:80. At serum dilutions of 1:80, the numbers of samples positive in the first, second, third trimester, and cord sera were 18, 21, 21, and 15, respectively. At serum dilutions of 1:160, the numbers of sera positive for antinuclear antibodies in each trimester and in cord sera were 9, 12, 9, and 8, respectively. All but three women with positive tests for antinuclear antibodies remained positive throughout their pregnancies. The frequencies with which antinuclear antibodies were found during pregnancy were not significantly higher than the frequency of antinuclear antibodies in nonpregnant female control subjects. A review of pregnancy outcome indicated that maternal antinuclear antibodies are not, in general, associated with abnormalities of the pregnancy or of the offspring.
D000328:Adult; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000032:analysis*; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral