The production of MLR-blocking factors after lymphocyte immunotherapy for RSA does not predict the outcome of pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE
The questions of whether production of mixed lymphocyte reaction-blocking factors (MLR-BFs) after immunotherapy with lymphocytes for recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) has prognostic value and whether cytotoxic antibodies are also involved were tested.


METHODS
A prospective study with 33 patients who had a history of two or more abortions, lacking MLR-BFs, was carried out. The patients received immunizations with lymphocytes and 6 weeks or later were tested for seroconversion of MLR-BFs. Seventeen of these thirty-three patients were evaluated for antipaternal cytotoxic antibodies. The results were correlated with the outcome of the next pregnancy after treatment.


RESULTS
Eighty percent of the 33 patients had a live child. Of those patients having success, only 50% produced MLR-BFs. Of those patients having a new loss, five did and two did not produce MLR-BF (P > 0.05). Regarding the 17 patients tested for cytotoxic antibodies, 4 of the 5 patients who tested positive had a new abortion, whereas only 1 of 12 whose tests remained negative did not have gestational success (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The presence of MLR-BFs is not a prognostic criterium for the outcome of pregnancy after alloimmunotherapy, and, consequently, it is not a good diagnostic tool for RSA of alloimmune cause.
Peña
R B
RB
Reproduction Program, School of Medicine, University of Antioquia, Medellín-Colombia.
Cadavid
A P
AP
Botero
J H
JH
García
G P
GP
Gallego
M I
MI
Ossa
J E
JE
D000026:Abortion, Habitual / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy*; D019138:Antibodies, Blocking / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007518:Isoantibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007959:Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies
D019138:Antibodies, Blocking; D007518:Isoantibodies