Maternal peripheral T helper 1-type and T helper 2-type immunity in women during the first trimester of twin pregnancy.
BACKGROUND
This study investigated the T helper Th1:Th2 balance in twin pregnancies compared with singleton pregnancies during the first trimester.


METHODS
Blood samples were taken from 24 women with a singleton pregnancy and 14 women with twin pregnancy at 8-9 weeks' gestation to examine the ratios of Th1:Th2 and serum human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and progesterone levels.


RESULTS
The average ratio of Th1:Th2 in the twin pregnancies was significantly lower than that in singleton pregnancies (7.3+/-2.3 vs. 10.5+/-2.2, p<0.05). There were negative correlations between the Th1:Th2 ratio and serum hCG levels (mIU/ml) (Th1:Th2 ratio = 14.5-4.52 x 10(-5)xhCG, r(2)=0.41, p<0.05) and between the Th1:Th2 ratio and serum progesterone levels (ng/dl; Th1:Th2 ratio = 23.0-0.63 x progesterone, r(2)=0.36, p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings show marked predominance of Th2 type cytokines occurring in twin pregnancies is related to the increase in trophoblasts during the first trimester.
Suzuki
Shunji
S
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tokyo Rinkai Hospital, 1-4-2 Rinkai-cho, 134-0086 Edogawa-ku, Tokyo, Japan. czg83542@mopera.ne.jp
Okudaira
Sayaka
S
D001772:Blood Cell Count; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011272:Pregnancy, Multiple / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D014427:Twins
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D011374:Progesterone