Is the paternal mononuclear cells' immunization a successful treatment forrecurrent spontaneous abortion?

PROBLEM: Alloimmunization as a treatment for recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) is still controversial due to the lack of enough controls to evaluat e its effectiveness. The present study was conducted to compare the live bi rth rate in the presence or absence of immunotherapy. METHOD OF STUDY: Ninety-two women with RSA (79 primary [PA] and 13 secondar y aborters[SA]) received immunotherapy. Thirty-seven RSA couples not receiv ing paternal alloimmunization, constituted the "control" group. RESULTS: The pregnancy rate in alloimmunized was 58 vs 46% in the control g roup. The live birth increased from 71% in the controls to 88% after immuno therapy. The alloimmunization induced mixed lymphocyte reaction blocking fa ctors (MLR BFs) in 79% of women. However, they were also present in 83% of immunized women experiencing a new abortion. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that alloimmunization may be useful in t he treatment of RSA.