HLA frequency, HLA sharing and immunotherapy in the management of recurrent miscarriage.
OBJECTIVE
To test couples with three or more consecutive recurrent miscarriages for suitability of the mother for immunization with paternal lymphocytes.


METHODS
Regional transfusion centre, patients referred by local obstetricians.


METHODS
Women treated were from 103 couples with > or = 3 consecutive recurrent miscarriages and no more than one live birth. HLA sharing and frequencies were investigated, and contrasted with control data. Patients showed increased sharing versus control (but not in comparison with gene frequencies of the county population). Sixty-eight mothers were finally found suitable and immunized with paternal lymphocytes.


METHODS
Pregnancy and live births.


RESULTS
55/68 conceived, with 30 live births resulting; 8/13 additional successes after repeat (booster) immunization.


CONCLUSIONS
This treatment still suffers from the lack of clear criteria for patient selection, and it should be submitted to a prospective controlled double-blind trial.
Purandare
A S
AS
Wessex Regional Transfusion Centre, Southampton, England.
Smith
D S
DS
Wilson
P J
PJ
D000017:ABO Blood-Group System / Q000032:analysis; D000026:Abortion, Habitual / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D015995:Prevalence; D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System / Q000032:analysis
D000017:ABO Blood-Group System; D001323:Autoantibodies; D006680:HLA Antigens; D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System