NK cell activity and subsets in women with a history of spontaneous abortion - Cause, number of abortions, and subsequent pregnancy outcome

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the role of NK cells in nonp regnant women with a history of spontaneous abortion. Study Design: 113 non pregnant women with a history of spontaneous abortion were assessed for per ipheral NK cell activity and percentage of NK cell subsets, in relation to the cause of abortions, the number of spontaneous abortions, and subsequent pregnancy outcome (n = 56). Results: Neither NK cell activity nor subsets showed a significant difference in relation to the cause or number of spont aneous abortions. NK cell activity in nonpregnant women who later experienc ed subsequent abortion with normal chromosomes (n = 10) (mean SD: 42.8 +/- 15.8%) was relatively higher than that in women with subsequent live birth (control, n = 39) (32.1 +/- 13.7%) (p = 0.099). NK cell activity in women w ho later experienced subsequent abortion with abnormal chromosomes (n = 7) (28.7 +/- 21.4%) was the same as the level in the control. Conclusion: Peri pheral NK cell activity or subsets during nonpregnant status were not relat ed to the cause or number of previous spontaneous abortions. A relation bet ween preconceptional NK cell activity and later experiencing abortion with normal chromosomes should be further studied. Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel.