Specific secretory phase endometrial leukocytes of women with two and more consecutive idiopathic abortions are not significantly different from healthy controls.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze concentrations of endometrial leukocytes in patients with idiopathic-repeated abortions.


METHODS
Biopsies of exactly dated secretory endometrium in 25 patients with idiopathic-repeated abortions and 10 control patients without a history of miscarriage were compared with respect to the concentrations of T-helper cells (CD4), cytotoxic T-cells (CD8), B-cells (CD19) and uterine natural killer cells (CD56) by immunohistochemistry and RNase protection assays.


RESULTS
All examined cells were detectable within secretory endometrium. No statistically significant differences of the examined immune-cell concentrations were seen between the control group and the repeated miscarriage group by either test.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that the concentrations of specific endometrial leukocytes in a non-pregnant cycle are not associated with repeated pregnancy loss. Thus, the hypothesis of an altered endometrial immunity in patients with repeated miscarriages, symbolized by persistently differing local immune-cell concentrations, has to be questioned.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Luebeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538, Luebeck, Germany. michael.bohlmann@uk-sh.de
Michael K
MK
Bohlmann
Doerte W
DW
Luedders
Thomas
T
Strowitzki
Michael
M
von Wolff
D000026:Abortion, Habitual / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000328:Adult; D004717:Endometrium / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D008183:Luteal Phase / Q000276:immunology; D055815:Young Adult