The aim of the study was to establish the distribution of the lymphocyte populations in peripheral blood in pregnant women with antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) and a history of recurrent pregnancy loss as well as to make a study on the influence of the intravenous IgG-treatment (IVIg) on the levels of antibodies and peripheral lymphocytes.
Materials and methods: 14 pregnant women were investigated. The latter had two or more recurrent abortions and positive aPL--anticardiolipin (aCL) and/or anti-beta 2-Glycoprotein I (anti-beta 2-GPI). The lymphocyte populations were examined, using a flowcytometric method in peripheral blood before 6-7th gestational week and on the 10-14 day after the second IVIg infusion. 10 pregnant women wer used as controls who had no aPL antibodies and no pregnancy loss.
Results: 13 out of 14 pregnancies were successful Lymphocyte populations of the examined patients before the first infusion compared to the controls showed statistically significant differences for: T-lymphocyted Th(reduced) and CD3-CD56 + NK (increased) Significant increase after therapy was noticed for the levels of T-lymphocytes, and Th while the NK-cell populations were significantly reduced.
Conclusions: aPL-positive pregnancies most probably were associated with elevated and activated peripheral NK-cell subpopulations. The low doses of IVIg successfully reduce the levels of aPL, as well as peripheral CD3-CD56 + NK cells.