Impaired mixed lymphocyte reaction in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE
To clarify the alteration of maternal-fetal mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP).


METHODS
Twenty-two patients with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy and 21 normal pregnant women were recruited into the present study. Of patients with ICP, 5 also experienced pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH). Maternal-fetal mixed lymphocyte reaction was conducted by using a morphologic transformation method, and the transformation rates of lymphocytes were compared either between ICP patients with and without pregnancy-induced hypertension, or between control and ICP group.


RESULTS
In the ICP group, the transformation rates of lymphocytes were not significantly different between pregnancies with and without pregnancy-induced hypertension (p > 0.5). Compared with control, the transformation rate of lymphocytes in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy decreased significantly (p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Suppressed mixed lymphocyte reaction was observed in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy and its mechanism behind and role in the disease need to be further explored.
Dong
Minyue
M
Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejian, China. mydong@mial.hz.zj.cn
Xie
Xing
X
Wang
Zhengping
Z
He
Jing
J
Zhou
Jianhong
J
Cheng
Qi
Q
D000328:Adult; D002780:Cholestasis, Intrahepatic / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D007959:Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000276:immunology*