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The incidence of preeclampsia in 1st term pregnancies was studied in relation to whether or not they were preceded by pregnancies which ended in abortion--spontaneous or induced. 220 patients with previous abortion were studied along with 2 sets of controls, 1 with no previous abortion or pregnancy and 1 with a 2nd term pregnancy. The incidence of preeclampsia was significantly lower than there had been a previous induced abortion but this was not as low as in cases with a 2nd term pregnancy. This finding may be interpreted as supporting the idea that pregnancy exerts a protective effect against the risk of preeclampsia which may have an immunological basis. A mechanism is suggested to explain the apparent "protective" effect of 1st pregnancies.

4 El I o p m e n t a I I m m u nology ABSTRACT: As blood transfusion has a beneficial effect on renal graft survival and may confer a protection against preeclampsia, the effect of neonatal or late blood transfusion on lymphocyte cultures was studied. Mixed lymphocyte reactions were significantly less even 20 years after transfusion. (Am J Reprod Immunol. 1981;

Summary Changes in leucocyte populations and lymphocyte transformation with PHA were measured serially in 12 pregnant women, before and after delivery. There was a significant increase in the total numbers of leucocytes and neutrophils at delivery and for the 24 hours post partum. Lymphocyte counts increased, but not at significant levels, at or following delivery. Lymphocyte transformation rates were significantly higher before delivery and at 24 hours post partum, than at delivery or 2 hours post partum. Although plasma suppressor factors were found before and after delivery, plasma taken at delivery or 2 hours post partum was significantly more suppressive for nonpregnant lymphocytes. It is recommended that maternal blood samples should be taken before delivery for assays of maternal immunocompetence or maternofetal mixed leucocyte reactions.

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