title: New decision-tree model for defining the risk of reproductive failure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Natural killer (NK) cells play a key role in embryo implantation and pregnancy success, whereas blood and uterine NK expansions have been involved in the pathophysiology of reproductive failure (RF). Our main goal was to design in a large observational study a tree-model decision for interpretation of risk factors for RF.
  
  
  METHODS
  A hierarchical multivariate decision model based on a classification and regression tree was developed. NK and NKT-like cell subsets were analyzed by flow cytometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  By multivariate analysis, blood NK cells expansion was an independent risk factor for RF (both recurrent miscarriages and implantation failures). We propose a new decision-tree model for the risk interpretation of women with RF based on a combination of main risk factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women with age above 35 years and >13% CD56⁺CD16⁺ NK cells showed the highest risk of further pregnancy loss (100%).
authors.affiliation: Unit of Clinical Immunology, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Rocío
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ramos-Medina
authors.forename: Áurea
authors.initials: Á
authors.lastname: García-Segovia
authors.forename: Juan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: León
authors.forename: Bárbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Alonso
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tejera-Alhambra
authors.forename: Juana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gil
authors.forename: Juan D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Caputo
authors.forename: Ansgar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Seyfferth
authors.forename: Ángel
authors.initials: Á
authors.lastname: Aguarón
authors.forename: Ángeles
authors.initials: Á
authors.lastname: Vicente
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ordoñez
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alonso
authors.forename: Elena Carrillo
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: de Albornoz
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Carbone
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Caballero
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fernandez-Cruz
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ortiz-Quintana
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Ramón
mesh_terms: D000026:Abortion, Habitual / Q000276:immunology*; D000328:Adult; D019002:CD56 Antigen / Q000276:immunology*; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D020964:Embryo Loss / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D017452:Receptors, IgG / Q000276:immunology*; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D019002:CD56 Antigen; C428200:FCGR3B protein, human; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; C522918:NCAM1 protein, human; D017452:Receptors, IgG