title: Clinical significance of anti-GM3 antibodies in recurrent pregnancy loss with elevated level of antiphospholipid antibodies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The ganglioside-GM3 neutralizes the reactivity of antiphospholipid antibodies (APLs) to phospholipids in vitro. The question of whether anti-GM3 antibodies might exert influence in APLs-positive recurrent pregnancy loss patients who are undergoing prednisolone and aspirin (PSL/ASA) treatment was investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  The anti-GM3 antibody assay of sera was accomplished by ELISA. Sera of 56 patients with recurrent pregnancy loss, including 30 APLs-positive cases given PSL/ASA treatment, were examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients positive for IgG or IgM type anti-GM3 antibodies constituted 13/30 (43%) of the APLs-positive group as compared with only 2/26 (8%) of those who were negative (P < 0.01). In pregnant women with APLs-positive treated with PSL/ASA, live births occurred in only 6/13 (46%) patients with detectable anti-GM3 antibodies, while in 16/17 (94%) who tested negative for anti-GM3 antibodies (P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This observation suggests the possibility that presence of anti-GM3 antibodies may be an indicator for determining the prognosis in recurrent pregnancy loss with elevated level of APLs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nagoya City University Medical School, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ozaki
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aoki
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aoyama
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kunimatsu
mesh_terms: D000026:Abortion, Habitual / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D000328:Adult; D017152:Antibodies, Antiphospholipid / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005679:G(M3) Ganglioside / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D010504:Periodic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D017152:Antibodies, Antiphospholipid; D005679:G(M3) Ganglioside; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D010504:Periodic Acid; D011239:Prednisolone; D001241:Aspirin