GM-CSF and pregnancy: evidence of significantly reduced blood concentrations in unexplained recurrent abortion efficiently reverted by intravenous immunoglobulin treatment.
OBJECTIVE
Certain Th-2 cytokines and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) are propitious for the success of pregnancy and recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) is often characterized by a failure of Th-2 type responses. These considerations as well as the use of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) in RSA induced us to evaluate the levels of GM-CSF in normal pregnancies, in pregnant women affected with unexplained RSA and the effects of IVIg treatment.


METHODS
Peripheral blood free GM-CSF was measured by means of a sandwich enzyme immunoassay in 39 healthy women (13 non-pregnant, 26 pregnant) and in 53 RSA patients (11 non-pregnant, 42 pregnant). In 14 pregnant RSA patients GM-CSF was studied also after the very first IVIg infusion (0.5 g/kg body weight).


RESULTS
In healthy women we found a significant increase of GM-CSF during pregnancy, in pregnant RSA patients such an increase was not detected. After IVIg, GM-CSF concentrations were almost doubled.


CONCLUSIONS
GM-CSF is found increased in normal pregnancy and is very low during pregnancy in RSA. IVIg infusions are capable of increasing GM-CSF in pregnant recurrent aborters.
Perricone
Roberto
R
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy. roberto.perricone@uniroma2.it
De Carolis
Caterina
C
Giacomelli
Roberto
R
Guarino
Maria D
MD
De Sanctis
Giuliana
G
Fontana
Luigi
L
D000026:Abortion, Habitual / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome
D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor