Detection of cervical immunoglobulin A in normal pregnancy.
The aim of our study was to evaluate a feasible method to quantify the immunoglobulin A concentration in the cervical mucus of women with a normal singleton pregnancy. In 60 immunologic healthy pregnant women cervical mucus samples were taken at a random time in pregnancy using an absorbing cylindrical cotton-swab stick. In this cervical mucus immunoglobulin A concentration was measured by radial immunodiffusion. A vaginal bacterial swab was taken from each woman. Concentration of immunoglobulins in maternal serum was estimated. There was no statistically significant difference of cervical immunoglobulin A concentration between the investigated groups (p = 0.952): 18-24 gestational weeks (gw): 52.8 (6.6-258.4) mg/l; 25-29 gw: 89.3 (4.8-193.8) mg/l; 30-34 gw: 55 (1.4-326) mg/l; 35-40 gw: 59.2 (4-400.9) mg/l. Women with a normal vaginal flora showed a significantly higher cervical immunoglobulin A concentration than those with a pathological colonization: 92.2 (6.6-400.9) mg/l vs. 42.5 (1.4-326) mg/l (p < 0.05). The serum levels of immunoglobulins A, A1, A2, M and G do not correlate to cervical immunoglobulin A levels nor to gestational age. In normal pregnancy, cervical immunoglobulin A concentration does not change with advancing gestational age, but a pathological vaginal colonization seems to be associated with decreased immunoglobulin A levels.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Leipzig, Germany. Simone.abitzsch@glaswald.de
S
S
Abitzsch
H
H
Stepan
U
U
Sack
R
R
Faber
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000276:immunology*; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D006194:Gardnerella vaginalis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019535:Mycoplasma hominis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011247:Pregnancy; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016990:Ureaplasma urealyticum / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014621:Vagina / Q000382:microbiology
D007070:Immunoglobulin A