Fetal lymphocyte subpopulations in red blood cell iso-immunised pregnancies.
OBJECTIVE
To study the association between fetal anaemia and alterations in lymphocyte subpopulations.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
The Harris Birthright Research Centre for Fetal Medicine, King's College Hospital Medical School, London.


METHODS
Forty-three red blood cell iso-immunised pregnancies undergoing cordocentesis at 19 to 38 weeks gestation.


METHODS
Fetal blood haemoglobin concentration, erythroblast count and lymphocyte subpopulations.


RESULTS
The mean T (CD3+), B (CD19+), T-helper (CD4+), T-suppressor/cytotoxic (CD8+) and natural killer (NK: CD16+/CD56+) cell counts in the anaemic fetuses were significantly lower than the appropriate normal mean for gestation (CD3+: t = -3.25, P < 0.01; CD19+: t = -2.14, P < 0.05; CD4+: t -4.03, P < 0.001; CD8+: t = -3.39, P < 0.01 and CD16+/CD56+: t = -3.49, P < 0.01). Furthermore, there was a significant association between the decrease in T lymphocyte number and the degree of fetal anaemia (r = 0.342, P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Fetuses from red blood cell iso-immunised pregnancies exhibit nonselective lymphopenia that is proportional to the degree of anaemia.
Thilaganathan
B
B
Harris Birthright Research Centre for Fetal Medicine, King's College Hospital School of Medicine, London, UK.
Makrydimas
G
G
Plachouras
N
N
Nicolaides
K H
KH
D000740:Anemia / Q000097:blood; D016175:B-Lymphocyte Subsets; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000097:blood; D005319:Fetal Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D011247:Pregnancy; D012203:Rh Isoimmunization / Q000097:blood*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer
D005319:Fetal Hemoglobin