Immune dysfunction in patients with unexplained repeated abortions.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the immunological profiles by antiphospholipid antibodies IgG, IgM, IgA immunoglobulins ACA, as well as C3, C4 complement component levels.


METHODS
A group of 44 women with a history of three or more consecutive pregnancy losses was compared with 34 normal women.


RESULTS
Our results showed lower levels of IgG immunoglobulins for the patient group (P < 0.001) while the C3, C4 complement component levels remained unaltered. Anticardiolipin antibodies were positive in ten patients for IgG or IgM isotypes or for both presenting a prevalence of 22.7% while none of the control subjects had ACA positive titers. The lupus anticoagulant was not detected in either group. Ten patients (22.7%) presented positive autoantibody tests as compared with only 3 (8.8%) of the control group. No statistical differences were found between the two groups when the frequency of each autoantibody's positive tests were examined separately.


CONCLUSIONS
An inconsistent immune derangement seems to be present in recurrent aborters with the presence of anticardiolipin antibodies as the stronger representative marker of immune alteration.
Konidaris
S
S
2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Areteion Hospital, University of Athens, Greece.
Papadias
K
K
Gregoriou
O
O
Gargaropoulos
A
A
Dalamaga
A
A
Mantzavinos
T
T
D000026:Abortion, Habitual / Q000276:immunology*; D000328:Adult; D017153:Antibodies, Anticardiolipin / Q000032:analysis; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000032:analysis; D016682:Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor / Q000032:analysis; D011247:Pregnancy
D017153:Antibodies, Anticardiolipin; D001323:Autoantibodies; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D016682:Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor; D003165:Complement System Proteins