title: Recurrent pregnancy loss and inappropriate local immune response to sex hormones.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The cause of recurrent miscarriage is often unknown. Recurrent miscarriage may be associated with inappropriate responses to progesterone and estrogen. We examined whether the condition may be diagnosed by skin testing.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a longitudinal prospective study, the weal and flare reaction after intradermal injection of estradiol and progesterone was compared in 29 women with recurrent miscarriage to the response in 10 healthy women. Reactions were evaluated after 20 min, 24, and 48 hr and 5 days later.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Estrogen hypersensitivity was found in 23 patients, and progesterone hypersensitivity in 20 patients. No patient in the control group demonstrated sex hormone hypersensitivity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Recurrent pregnancy loss may be associated with inappropriate local immune responses to sex hormones. Further research is necessary into the mechanisms of hypersensitivity to estrogen and progesterone and their interactions with other systems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel. itsekson@netvision.net.il
authors.forename: Alek M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Itsekson
authors.forename: Daniel S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Seidman
authors.forename: Matityahu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zolti
authors.forename: Anneta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lazarov
authors.forename: Howard J A
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Carp
mesh_terms: D000026:Abortion, Habitual / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004967:Estrogens / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D011374:Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012882:Skin Tests
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D011374:Progesterone