Results of Immunotherapy for Patients with Unexplained Primary Recurrent Abortions – Prospective Non-Randomized Cohort Study
Taro Nonaka, Koichi Takakuwa, Izumi Ooki, Mami Akashi, Tomokazu Yokoo, Akira Kikuchi, Kenichi Tanaka
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Niigata University School of Medicine, Asahimachi-dori, Niigata, Japan
Problem
The present study was conducted to examine the efficacy of immunotherapy for unexplained primary recurrent aborters using paternal lymphocytes.
Method of study
Two hundred and twenty-eight recurrent aborters were prospectively followed up regarding immunotherapy. Of the 228 patients, 165 underwent immunotherapy using freshly prepared paternal lymphocytes and pregnancy outcome was analyzed. No mixed lymphocyte culture reaction-blocking antibodies (MLR-BAbs) were observed in these patients prior to vaccinations. Pregnancy outcome was also analyzed in such as those patients positive for MLR-BAbs and who did not undergo immunotherapy, and in patients negative for MLR-BAbs and who had become pregnant without immunotherapy.
Results
Of the 140 newly pregnant patients after immunotherapy, the pregnancy continued successfully in 110 (78.6%), and the pregnancy continued successfully in 24 of 32 patients (75.0%) who were positive for MLR-BAbs. The success rate of pregnancy was 30.0% in 18 non-immunized patients. Thus, the success rate was significantly higher among patients with immunotherapy and patients positive for MLR-BAbs than in non-immunized patients, negative for MLR-BAbs.
Conclusion
Immunotherapy using paternal lymphocytes is considered to be effective for unexplained primary recurrent aborters negative for MLR-BAbs.