Abnormal immunoglobulin subclass patterns in women with a history of recurrent miscarriage.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether IgG subclass patterns differed between nonpregnant women, healthy pregnant women, and pregnant women with a history of recurrent miscarriage.


METHODS
Controlled clinical study.


METHODS
An academic setting.


METHODS
Group 1 was comprised of 10 nonpregnant women, group 2 of 10 healthy pregnant women, group 3 of eight pregnant women with a history of recurrent miscarriage and whose pregnancies on this occasion went to term, and group 4 of 10 women with a history of recurrent miscarriage whose pregnancies again failed later in the first trimester.


METHODS
None of the patients received any medication.


METHODS
Serum levels of total IgG and IgG 1, 2, 3, and 4.


RESULTS
The results obtained showed that normal pregnancy was associated with a significant increase in total IgG production and an increase in IgG subclasses 1, 2, and 3. Women with a history of miscarriage, but who had a successful pregnancy on this occasion, showed a similar pattern of IgG subclasses. Women with a history of miscarriage and whose pregnancy again ended in miscarriage showed a different IgG subclass pattern.


CONCLUSIONS
Pregnancies that ended in miscarriage showed a different pattern of IgG subclasses than those that continued to term. The changes seen in immunoglobulin patterns could be linked to changes in cytokine production.
Wilson
R
R
University Department of Medicine, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Scotland, United Kingdom. gcl025@clinmed.gla.ac.uk
Maclean
M A
MA
Jenkins
C
C
Kinnane
D
D
Mooney
J
J
Walker
J J
JJ
D000026:Abortion, Habitual / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012016:Reference Values
D007074:Immunoglobulin G