Human leucocyte antigens in pregnant women with pre-eclampsia associated with intrauterine growth retardation and in normal controls.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the association between maternal HLA class II and intrauterine growth retardation with associated birthweight of the newborn, in women with preeclampsia.


METHODS
Thirty preeclamptics and 30 normotensive matched for age, parity and gestation were investigated for HLA class II profile using Terasaki microlymphocytotoxicity test as the typing technique. The outcome of the pregnancy in terms of intrauterine growth retardation, birthweight and placental weight, were investigated to elucidate a susceptibility factor in the HLA Class II profile of the preeclamptic women.


RESULTS
HLA class II DR2, DR4, DRw11, DRw14 and DQw2 were more common in the preeclamptic women (p < 0.04, 0.03, 0.05, 0.03, 0.05), while DQw3 was more common in the controls (p < 0.05). Mean birthweight was 2.71 +/- 0.73 kg with preeclampsia compared to 3.4 +/- 0.4 kg for controls (p < O.01). Low birthweight was 56.7% versus 6.1% (p < 0.001) and mean placental weight was 474.8 +/- 100.8 gm versus 692.1 +/- 107.3 gm (p < 0.01). DR4 and DQW2 were significantly associated with intrauterine growth retardation with associated low birthweight and placental weight (p < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
HLA class II hyaplotypes DR4, and DQw2 are associated with intrauterine growth retardation with associated low birthweight and placental weight through preeclampsia. The association between intrauterine growth retardation and HLA may be a direct susceptibility factor. This needs further elucidation.
Omu
A E
AE
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Safat, Kuwait.
al-Qattan
F
F
Bukhadour
N
N
D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight; D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D005787:Gene Frequency; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007730:Kuwait; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012307:Risk Factors
D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II