| Changes of natural killer cell number and cytolytic activity during first trimester of pregnancy in recurrent spontaneous abortion patients and fertile control. |
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Yun Hee Kim, Young Joo Kim, Shin Ok Jeong, Sun Hwa Cha, Min Hye Choi, Kwang Moon Yang |
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Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cheil General Hospital and Women's Healthcare Center, Kwandong University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. km1yang@naver.com |
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| Abstract |
OBJECTIVE
We aimed to evaluate whether natural killer cell (NK cell) numbers and their cytolytic activity are changed in 1st trimester of pregnancy in patients who had history of recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA). METHODS: Non-pregnant women who had history of RSA (n=48) and 10 patients who had success to get pregnancy comprised the study group. Non-pregnant fertile (n=17) and early pregnant women (n=7) who had history of at least one term birth without history of RSA or infertility were included as controls. %NK cells among peripheral blood lymphocyte and their cytolytic activities are measured. RESULTS: %NK cells among peripheral blood lymphocyte in RSA patients before pregnancy was significantly higher than that of non-pregnant normal control. NK cell cytolytic activity in non-pregnant RSA patients was significantly higher than that of non-pregnant fertile group. After success to get pregnancy, NK cell cytolytic activity in RSA patients were decreased but were not significantly different compared to that of NK cell cytolytic activity checked at non-pregnant status. NK cell cytolytic activity in pregnant RSA patients was significantly higher than that of pregnant normal control. CONCLUSION: Failure to decrease NK cell cytolytic activity in early pregnancy would have pivotal role in failure to sustain pregnancy in RSA patients. Further studies would be needed for clarifying our results. |
| Key Words:
Recurrent spontaneous abortion, Peripheral blood natural killer cell, Natural killer cell cytolytic activity |
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