Expression of an immunomodulatory protein known as progesterone induced blocking factor (PIBF) does not correlate with first trimester spontaneous abortions in progesterone supplemented women.
OBJECTIVE
An immunomodulatory protein known as the progesterone induced blocking factor (PIBF) has been found to positively correlate with early pregnancy beta human chorionic gonadotropin (B-hCG) levels. The study presented herein evaluated PIBF levels from conception to the end of the first trimester to determine if lower levels will correlate with first trimester spontaneous abortions (SAB).


METHODS
Progesterone induced blocking factor expression by lymphocytes measured using an immunocytochemistry method was compared in pregnant women with ongoing vs. failed pregnancies.


RESULTS
There were no differences in the proportion of women having lymphocytes expressing PIBF or in the median numbers when comparing ongoing vs. failed pregnancies. There was no B-hCG interval where failed pregnancies were found to have lower frequency of PIBF expressing lymphocytes.


CONCLUSIONS
Inadequate PIBF expression independent of low P levels does not appear to be an etiologic factor for first trimester SABs; thus measuring this protein in pregnant women lacks practical usefulness.
Check
J H
JH
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School at Camden, USA.
Ostrzenski
A
A
Klimek
R
R
D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First / Q000276:immunology; D011374:Progesterone / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013491:Suppressor Factors, Immunologic / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; C110058:PIBF1 protein, human; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; D013491:Suppressor Factors, Immunologic; D011374:Progesterone