title: Are CD57+ natural killer cells really important in early pregnancy failure?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to compare the CD57+ Natural Killer (NK) cell counts in normal pregnancies and in cases grouped according to different types of early pregnancy failure.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective case control study which was set in Baskent University Faculty of Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology Department. A total of 119 women whose pregnancies ended in the first trimester were divided into elective pregnancy termination, incomplete miscarriage, intrauterine demise, ectopic pregnancy and recurrent pregnancy loss groups. CD57+ NK cells were stained and counted in the histologic preparations of the decidua in all of these groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CD57+ NK cell counts were 2.14+/-1.42 in control, 2.24+/-1.92 in incomplete miscarriage, 1.82+/-1.34 in intrauterine demise, 2.54+/-1.80 in ectopic pregnancy and 3.42+/-2.15 in recurrent pregnancy failure group. There were no statistically significant differences between the control group and the other four groups with respect to the CD57+ NK cell counts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that CD57+ NK cell count is not associated with early pregnancy failure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baskent University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. eparlakyigit@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Emel Ebru
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Ozcimen
authors.forename: Halil
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kiyici
authors.forename: Ayla
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Uckuyu
authors.forename: Filiz Fatma
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Yanik
mesh_terms: D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000276:immunology; D000328:Adult; D018959:CD57 Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018959:CD57 Antigens