Short communication

Abstract

Twelve women (13 pregnancies) with antiphospholipid antibodies (APA) who had suffered from two or more recurrent spontaneous abortions or fetal deaths and had successful pregnancy outcomes after immunosuppressive therapy were studied. APA titers were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay against cardiolipin, phosphatidyl serine and phosphatidyl inositol. Plasma levels of 6ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha (6ketoPGF1 alpha) and thromboxane B2 (TXB2) were determined by radioimmunoassay. All of the 13 pregnancies resulted in term delivery. None of the 13 patients suffered from pregnancy-induced hypertension, and only one showed intrauterine growth retardation. A significant decrease of APA titer was observed after immunosuppressive therapy. The 6ketoPGF1 alpha/TXB2 ratios before the therapy, after it and at the 1st, 2nd and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy were 0.62 +/- 0.398, 0.88 +/- 0.106, 0.84 +/- 0.550, 1.25 +/- 0.834 and 0.67 +/- 0.413, respectively. The ratio at the 2nd trimester was significantly higher than that before the therapy (P < 0.05, paired t-test, n = 9). The results indicate that the immunosuppressive therapy affected the physiological balance between thromboxane A2 and prostacyclin, and improved clinical symptoms such as recurrent fetal wastage.