Abnormal IL-2 receptor levels in non-pregnant women with a history of recurrent miscarriage.
BACKGROUND
Immunological abnormalities have been found in pregnant women with a history of recurrent miscarriage. This study compared interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) levels in non-pregnant women with a history of recurrent miscarriage with those found in serum from a non-pregnant group with no such history.


METHODS
Group 1 comprised 49 non-pregnant women with a history of recurrent miscarriage (at least three consecutive miscarriages). Group 2 comprised 22 non-pregnant women with no history of miscarriage. Serum IL-2R levels were measured in all patients.


RESULTS
The results obtained showed that although all women were not pregnant at the time of sampling, IL-2R levels were significantly higher in women in Group 1 compared with those in Group 2 (1589 +/- 1289 versus 1082 +/- 823 pg/ml; P < 0.05). Follow-up data were available for 21 women from Group 1. The next pregnancy ended successfully for 14 of these women, while seven miscarried again. The IL-2R levels obtained pre-pregnancy were not significantly different between the two groups (1480 +/- 910 versus 1356 +/- 716 pg/ml).


CONCLUSIONS
This study has shown that non-pregnant women with a history of recurrent miscarriage have raised IL-2R levels. These increased pre-pregnancy IL-2R levels did not necessarily predict miscarriage for the next pregnancy.
Wilson
R
R
University Departments of Medicine, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, UK. gcl025@clinmed.gla.ac.uk
Moore
J
J
Jenkins
C
C
Miller
H
H
Maclean
M A
MA
McInnes
I B
IB
Walker
J J
JJ
D000026:Abortion, Habitual / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology*; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood*
D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2