RECURRENT MOLAR PREGNANCIES IN A FAMILY WITH EXTENSIVE INTERMARRIAGE - REPORT OF A FAMILY AND REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

Background: Familial recurrent molar pregnancies are exceedingly rare. The genetic basis for recurrent moles is not well understood, and its association with major human lymphocytic antigen histocompatibility i s debatable. The purpose of this report is to present a family with ex tensive intermarriage and recurrent molar pregnancies with some emphas is on the result of the human lymphocytic antigen-typing. Case: Two si sters, both married to first-degree cousins, had three and five pathol ogically confirmed molar pregnancies, respectively. A second-degree co usin, also married to her first-degree cousin, is also reported to hav e had five consecutive moles. Chromosomal analysis and human lymphocyt ic antigen-typing on the two sisters and their spouses was performed. Human lymphocytic antigen-typing was compared to a cross-sectional sam ple of our population. This showed a high incidence of unusual human l ymphocytic antigens in these family members.Conclusion: In families wi th extensive intermarriage and recurrent molar pregnancies, patients a nd their spouses may have unusual human lymphocytic antigen histocompa tibility, which supports the possibility of a strong genetic predispos ition expressed at the level of major histocompatibility class I and I I gene translation.