THE IMPLICATION OF HISTOCOMPATIBILITY AND ALLOSENSIBILIZATION IN REPEATED ABORTIONS

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to know the possible implication of human histocompatibility (HLA) antigens in the etiology of repeate d abortions, METHODS: Antigen typing for the major histocompatibility system was carried out in 65 couples with 2 or more abortions and comp arative analysis was performed with 40 fertile couples by the odds rat io. Likewise, the possible relationship between cytotoxic antibodies i n maternal serum and reproductive prognosis was determined. RESULTS. T he couples with abortions did not present a significantly different ph enotypic frequency from that of the fertile couples in regard to the H LA antigens (loci HLA-A, HLA-B, and HLA-DR). On considering the 3 loci studied, the infertile couples presented significantly higher antigen ic HLA identity than the fertile couples. This significance was demons trable both by association and by odds ratio (OR: 4.9; CI 95%; 1.1-9.2 ). No differences were observed among women with primary (no full term pregnancy) or secondary abortions (some full term pregnancies) with r egard to common HLA antigens, with both groups being homogeneous. CONC LUSIONS: The presence of cytotoxic antibodies against paternal lymphoc ytes in maternal serum detected by cross-match reaction was not relate d to the pertaining to an infertile (including any of the established subgroups) or fertile population. Neither were differences observed in the presence of these antibodies among women with primary or secondar y abortions.